THE JOURNEY OF THE SCIENTIFIC-RESEARCH CENTER OF KARTVELOLOGY (A 30-YEAR HISTORY)

Abstract

The history of the Institute of Dialectology, with the Scientific-Research Center of Kartvelology as its successor, began in March 1992. Academician Magali Todua, the Rector of Akaki Tsereteli State University, took the initiative to establish the Laboratory of Kartvelian Languages, Dialects, and Folklore, which he also led. In August 1992, the Laboratory of Kartvelian Languages, Dialects, and Folklore was renamed the Institute of Dialectology affiliated with Kutaisi Akaki Tsereteli State University. In December 1992, Tariel Putkaradze, Candidate of Sciences in Philology was appointed as the head of the Institute of Dialectology. T. Putkaradze led the newlyestablished Institute of Dialectology to become one of the powerful and acknowledged scientific-research centers in the country. Right from the beginning, the functions of the Institute were accurately identified. These include recording, documenting as well as scholarly study of the Kartvelian dialect materials, and description and examination of the language as well as ethnographic and cultural features of various regions of Georgia. The extensive work undertaken by the Institute of Dialectology yielded a diverse and unique collection of sound recordings, incorporating material from different regions of Georgia. The uniqueness of the collection is attributed to the variety of topics covered and the advanced methodology and technology employed for recording and processing. In 2005, the institution underwent a name change, transitioning from the Scientific-Research Institute of Dialectology to the Scientific-Research Institute of Kartvelian Dialectology. In December 2011, as part of a structural reorganization at Akaki Tsereteli State University, the Scientific-Research Institute of Kartvelian Dialectology was integrated 10 ე. დადიანი into the newly-established Scientific-Research Center of the University, functioning as a scientific-research direction focused on Kartvelian dialectology. In May 2017, the Scientific-Research Center of Kartvelology was established within the framework of the Scientific-Research direction of Kartvelian Dialectology. The Center was then integrated into the Faculty of Humanities of Akaki Tsereteli State University as a specific structural unit. Associate Professor Eka Dadiani is appointed as the head of the Center. The Center encompasses two directions focusing on the study of I. the Kartvelian dialectology, ethnography and folklore: †Tariel Putkaradze (head of the direction); researchers: Maia Mikautadze, David Shavianidze, Tinatin Milorava, Teona Machavariani; II. the history and cultural heritage of the compatriots living abroad: Avtandil Nikoleishvili (head of the direction); researchers: Nestan Kutivadze, Sulkhan Kuprashvili, Luka Dvalishvili. In 2021, the Scientific-Research Center of Kartvelology was named after Professor Tariel Putkaradze. The Scientific-Research Center of Kartvelology has been involved in significant scholarly projects and activities over the past three decades. International Scientific Conference ‘Kutaisi Discussions’ founded by Tariel Putkaradze is of special importance. The first one of the ‘Kutaisi Discussions’ took place on May 13-14, 1994, while the last one (i.e. the 18th Conference) took place on June 9-10, 2023 and was dedicated to the 90th and 30th anniversaries of the founding of Akaki Tsereteli State University and the Center of Kartvelology, respectively. In 1997, as a result of T. Putkaradze’s efforts and initiative, the scientific journal ‘Kartvelian Heritage’ was launched. Twenty-six volumes have been published to date. Since 2021, the journal has been indexed in ERIH PLUS, an international database of academic journals. The organization of expeditions for scholars and students is associated with the name of T. Putkaradze. The student academic conferences are regularly organized by the Center of Kartvelology. National academic conference for MA and PhD students in the field of Kartvelian linguistics is an important scientific project that has been held regularly since 2007. The 15th conference was held on May 19 and 20, 2023. The staff of the Center of Kartvelology has been actively involved in various grant projects and has contributed to academic publications, including monographs and collections of essays. Their academic works and dialect texts have appeared in various (national and international) publications and they have participated in local, national and international scientific conferences. The Scientific-Research Center of Kartvelology, the successor of the Institute of Dialectology, is continuing the traditions established by Tariel Putkaradze and his colleagues over the past thirty years, and it is successfully applying their expertise to meet current challenges.