Georgia
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LANGUAGE MAP FOR GEORGIA
In an earlier contribution I referred to the use of apostrophes in transliterations of Georgian words and place-names. In the language map for Georgia in the latest edition of Ethnologue, apostrophes are used for aspirated consonants in several city names (e.g. K'ut'aisi =ქუთაისი), but not in a consistent manner. The toponyms written "Ozurgeti" (ოზურგეთი) and "Rustavi" (რუსთავი) also contain aspirated /th/. To be consistent, you should either add apostrophes after /t/ in these names as well, or else remove the apostrophes from all the other toponyms on the Georgian map. In my view, when transcribing Georgian, or other indigenous Caucasus languages, it would be best to use the apostrophe to mark ejective/glottalized consonants. As for aspirated stops and affricates, one could either leave these unmarked, or follow the Armenianist practice of using a backwards apostrophe (left single quotation mark).
Best wishes,
Kevin Tuite
We have sent this contribution to the Ethnologue cartographers for their consideration (2022-12-19).
Correct spelling of Lechkhumi
In the country digest for Georgia, the toponym "Lechkhumi" is incorrectly spelled -- as in "Racha-Lochkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti region" (pg 16). The <o> is to be replaced by <e>: Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti
best wishes
Kevin Tuite
We will correct of spelling of this administrative subdivision (region) in Georgia for Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti.
Country digest for Georgia
In the country digest for Georgia (25th ed.), the use of apostrophes in place names is inconsistent and misleading, both on the map and in the language descriptions. In transcriptions, the regular (not backward) apostrophe should ONLY be used to indicate ejective (glottalized) consonants, as in the correctly-represented toponym T’q’varčeli on page 16. Unfortunately, the apostrophe often appears after aspirated consonants (e.g. “T’bilisi”)), which is incorrect. If aspiration is to be marked in the transcriptions, a backward apostrophe is to be used, as in the standard Latinization system for Armenian, i.e. T‘bilisi.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Kevin Tuite
We will remove the apostrophes after aspirated consonants (such as T'bilisi, now Tbilisi).