The Dual Status of Judeo-Georgian

The purpose of this paper is to show the dual nature of the status of Judeo-Georgian based on its studies, theories, and methods adopted from variationist sociolinguistics, distinctive linguistic repertoire approach to Jewish languages, using descriptive/synchronic, diachronic, and comparative-contrastive methods. Based on the traditional studies in Georgia in the twentieth century, Judeo-Georgian was considered one of the varieties of Georgian, and the main works were about presenting its features and searching for similarities from standard Georgian or its dialects. The purpose of such studies was to give Judeo-Georgian a status in the Georgian linguistic space (be it a dialect of Georgian, a sub-dialect of Georgian dialects, an ethnolect, an ethno-socilect). Today, in the 21st century, Judeo-Georgian studies have acquired new dimensions. It is already considered as one of the varieties not only of Georgian but also of Jewish languages. In the works of comparative linguistics of Jewish languages, there exist common features characteristic of all Jewish languages and Judeo-Georgian too is familiar with these criteria. Therefore, searching for its similarities and differences with other Jewish languages has begun. From this point of view, the understanding of Judeo-Georgian has acquired a new dimension at the modern stage and has become interesting in two ways: 1. as an ethno-dialect of Georgian with its sub-dialects; two as one of the Jewish languages, which has a certain place in the modern classification of Jewish languages.