Amea folklor institutu

irine CaCaniZe
quTaisi
leqsemaTa klasificireba fransua gambas kavkasiuri enebis mcire leqsikonis mixedviT
Classification of lexemes according to the small dictionary of the Caucasian languages by Francois Gamba
Irine Chachanidze
In terms of studying the history of Ibero-Caucasian languages any type of accidental information about these languages, lexical records, separate phrases, etc. that can be found in different written sources of foreign travelers or might be confirmed by inscriptions (or by the manuscripts produced in any other language) is of a significant importance. For Georgian language such type of information is less interesting but for unwritten languages they are of much importance: any type of documentation providing certain information about the old condition of these languages is scientifically very valuable for the history of the languages and therefore, they should be taken into account during the study of the languages as far as possible.
Jacques Francois Gamba (1763-1833) belongs to the group of travelers whose main motives of his journeys were commercial interests of Europe in Transcaucasia and namely in Georgia. He had been the French consul in Tbilisi for many years and had the possibility to obtain the detailed information about various parts of Georgia that was broadly reflected in his work.
‘Journey in South Russia, particularly in Transcaucasia, during 1820-1824 made by the Chevalier Gamba _ King’s consul in Tbilisi (Voyage, dans la Russie meridionale, et particulierement dans les provinces siuees au-dela du Caucase fait depuis 1820 jusqu’en 1824; Par le Chevalier Gamba, consul du roi a titles) is distinguished by the abundance and diversity of information about Georgia. We come across the descriptions of the political, economic and social situation of the state, the information about customs, traditions, ethnographic life of people and the rich natural resources of the state.
The most valuable part for the presented paper is the lexicographic information about Caucasian languages (Georgian, Abkhazian and Circassian) according to the work by F. Gamba. The text from this publication has been used below:
‘The dialect of Abkhazian people has no connection with the dialect of the neighboring Circassians. It can be judged by the table provided at the end of this volume; the table involves the words with the same meaning used in different languages and are placed in parallel order. Abkhazian words are written as they were uttered by the interpreter of the commandant and a local noble’.
Fragment form the dictionary:
Cire French _ Hadva Abkh. _ Chefu _Circ. _ Tsminda Santeli _Geo.
The paper discusses and analyses the data of the Italian author; there is an attempt to classify the lexemes according to the dictionary and to determine the possible source of information.