The Proto-Kartvelian language, or Common Kartvelian (, ), is the linguistic reconstruction of the common ancestor of the Kartvelian languages, which was spoken by the ancestors of the modern Kartvelian peoples. The existence of such a language is widely accepted by specialists in linguistics, who have reconstructed a broad outline of the language by comparing the existing Kartvelian languages against each other.Britannica, 15th edition (1986): Macropedia, "Languages of the World", "Caucasian languages" Several linguists, namely Gerhard Deeters and Georgy Klimov have also reconstructed a lower-level proto-language called Proto-Karto-Zan or Proto-Georgian-Zan, which is the ancestor of Karto-Zan languages (includes Georgian and Zan).Klimov (1998), p. VIII
Dating The split of Proto-Kartvelian into Svan and Proto-Georgian-Zan is usually estimated to have occurred around 2000 BC. However, a 2023 study using Bayesian linguistic phylogenetics found a mean split date of 7641 BP (5691 BC), in the Early Copper Age.
Influences
The ablaut patterns of Proto-Kartvelian are highly similar to those of the Indo-European languages, and so it is thought that Proto-Kartvelian interacted with Indo-European at a relatively early date.Gamkrelidze & Ivanov (1995), pp. 768, 774–776 This is reinforced by cognates with Indo-European, such as the Proto-Kartvelian ('breast'), and its possible relation to the Proto-Indo-European ('heart'). Proto-Kartvelian (warm) may also be related to Proto-Indo-European 'warm'.
Relation to descendants The modern descendants of Proto-Kartvelian are Georgian, Svan, Mingrelian and Laz. These form two primary branches, with Svan constituting one primary branch and Karto-Zan forming the other. This latter is further subdivided into Georgian on one hand and the Zan languages (Mingrelian and Laz) on the other. The ablaut patterns of Proto-Kartvelian were better preserved in Georgian and (particularly) Svan than in either Mingrelian or Laz, in which new forms have been set up so that there is a single, stable vowel in each word element.
The system of pronouns of Proto-Kartvelian is distinct on account of its category of inclusive–exclusive (so, for instance, there were two forms of the pronoun "we": one that includes the listener and one that does not). This has survived in Svan but not in the other languages. Svan also includes a number of archaisms from the Proto-Kartvelian era, and therefore it is thought that Svan broke off from Proto-Kartvelian at a relatively early stage: the later Proto-Kartvelian stage (called Karto-Zan) split into Georgian and Zan (Mingrelo-Laz).
Phonology
Vowels + Proto-Kartvelian vowelsGamkrelidze & Machavariani (1965)Klimov (1998), p. XGamkrelidze (1966), p. 70, 73, 80 Front Back unrounded rounded short long short long short long Close ( ) ( )Open-mid Open
Consonants + Proto-Kartvelian consonantsGamkrelidze (1966), p. 70Fähnrich (2002), p. 5 Labial Alveolar Retroflex Postalveolar Velar Uvular Glottal Fähnrich (2002), p. 5 Nasal Plosive Fricative Trill Approximant
Distinction between plain and ejective remains only in Svan language. This distinction also existed in Old Georgian.
Notes
References