Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Arnold Chikobava Institute of Linguistics
PhD in Philology; Senior Research Fellow, Department of Lexicology
Tbilisi/Georgia
Abstract
A toponym is a linguistic document. Since the majority of toponyms were created by the ethnic groups historically inhabiting a particular territory, they constitute an important source for the study of a country’s history, natural environment, and traditional culture.
Although Georgian scholarship has devoted considerable attention to toponymic studies, several directions remain especially relevant today: (1) the analysis of toponyms from a cultural perspective; (2) the practical application of research results in education, ecology, agriculture, and related fields; and (3) the popularization of toponymic knowledge.
The aim of the present research is to determine whether, and in what forms, the results of toponymic studies may be integrated into general educational practice. For this purpose, we initiated the project Georgia through Toponyms, an interactive educational program oriented toward non-formal education. At the first stage of the program, significant and culturally informative toponyms are identified and studied through linguistic, lexicographic, and cultural analysis. The dissemination and teaching of the obtained results are carried out through project-based learning models. The program also includes training in fieldwork methodology, practical activities, and interactive educational games.
The paper discusses one component of this project — Toponymy Reflecting Wheat Cultivation in Georgia — and presents material analyzed through historical-linguistic and ethnolinguistic methods. The presentation examines the motivations underlying toponym formation, their linguistic analysis and lexicographic data; the varieties of wheat historically cultivated in Georgia, the history of wheat cultivation, and related folk traditions; a brief description of the educational game “The Praised Bread Said”; and the technical component of the project.
Special attention is paid to the fact that some toponyms no longer reflect the actual existence of wheat fields in a given area; nevertheless, they preserve important information about the historical distribution and cultivation of wheat. This is clearly demonstrated by toponymic forms such as Na-pur-al-a, Na-pur-v-al-i, Na-dik-v-ar-i/a, Na-asl-ev-i, Na-qobal-u (Megrelian), Na-max-v-an-i, and others.
The project incorporates modern digital and fieldwork tools: students collect photographic and video materials, work with microscopes, and place the identified toponyms on digital maps together with cultural-historical descriptions.
The research has demonstrated that the cultivation of wheat and barley (Triticum, Hordeum) was widespread throughout the territory of historical Georgia from ancient times and constituted one of the foundations of traditional Georgian agriculture. Corresponding toponyms preserve the function of historical-economic memory even where the actual agricultural practices have disappeared.
The novelty of the research lies in the integration of toponymic material into non-formal education and digital educational practices. Toponymy represents a unique educational resource that creates opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and engaging forms of knowledge acquisition. Thus, it functions not only as a carrier of historical memory but also as a valuable resource for contemporary educational processes. Educational activities conducted within the framework of the project Georgia through Toponyms clearly demonstrated the high educational potential of toponymic material.
Keywords: Georgian toponymy, wheat cultivation, cereal crops, cultural memory, ethnolinguistics, non-formal education, digital educational practices.