Scripts
Georgian Script
JOR-jun
Also Known As Asomtavruli · Mkhedruli
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The Georgian scripts comprise three related writing systems, Asomtavruli, Nuskhuri and Mkhedruli, historically and currently used to write the Georgian language. Most scholars link their creation to the Christianization of Iberia (the core Georgian kingdom of Kartli, not the Iberian Peninsula), placing the alphabet's creation between King Mirian III's conversion (326 or 337) and the Bir el Qutt inscriptions of 430. Recent scholarship finds greater similarity to the Greek alphabet, in letter order and numeric value, than the other Caucasian writing systems show, though some scholars argue instead for a Semitic model such as Aramaic. A tradition crediting Mesrop Mashtots, inventor of the Armenian alphabet, with the Georgian script's creation has been rejected by Georgian scholarship and some Western scholars.
Facts
Disputed
In Use Since (Year)Bracketed between King Mirian III's conversion of Iberia (326 or 337) and the Bir el Qutt inscriptions of 430, the latest secure attestation used here; the exact date within that century-long window is not settled. DirectionalityWritten horizontally, left to right. 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Held Differently
Greek Script, Scripts Why this is disputed. Recent historiography favors Greek influence in letter order and numeric value, but some scholars argue instead for a Semitic model such as Aramaic; a separate tradition crediting Mesrop Mashtots personally with the Georgian script has been rejected by Georgian scholarship.
Script Of
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Georgian Scripts
Origin sectionQuote, Origin section
The alphabet was therefore most probably created between the conversion of Iberia under King Mirian III (326 or 337) and the Bir el Qutt inscriptions of 430.
1. Wikipedia: Georgian Scripts
Lead sectionQuote, Lead section
written horizontally from left to right
1. Wikipedia: Georgian Scripts
Asomtavruli sectionQuote, Asomtavruli section
The name Asomtavruli means 'capital letters', from aso (ასო) 'letter' and mtavari (მთავარი) 'principal/head'.
1. Wikipedia: Georgian Scripts
Mkhedruli sectionQuote, Mkhedruli section
Mkhedruli, literally meaning 'cavalry' or 'military', derives from mkhedari (მხედარი) meaning 'horseman'.
Wikipedia: Georgian Language
WikipediaScript Of: Georgian, History sectionQuote, Script Of: Georgian, History section
The emergence of Georgian as a written language appears to have been the result of the Christianization of Georgia in the mid-4th century.
Dissenting Readings (1 dissenting reading)
Influenced By: Greek Script
Javakhishvili, a Georgian historian, studied Koryun's fifth-century biography of Mesrop Mashtots (the source of the tradition crediting Mashtots with the Georgian script) and concluded that the passage crediting Mashtots is a sixth- or seventh-century addition to the text, not part of Koryun's original account; linguist Tamaz Gamkrelidze separately argued that creating a new script would have required a thorough linguistic analysis Mashtots could not have performed, since he did not know the Georgian language.
A dissenting reading, from Ivane JavakhishviliWikipedia: Georgian Scripts
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