ფონემათა დისტრიბუცია ქართულში გავრცელებულ საკუთარ სახელებში: ფონეტიკური სიმბოლიზმი?

Abstract

Based on statistical analysis of consonants’ distribution in Georgian Proper Nouns and taking into account gender differences some generalizations might be suggested: Female proper nouns mostly represent r, l, m, n sonorant consonants, while male proper nouns – fricatives, occlusives and affricates (mostly glottalized ones). The statistic data give arguments to interpret consonants distribution as some kind of Phonetic Symbolism: Female nouns symbolizing general image of females’ soft nature are represented by soft, sonorant sounds, while male nouns symbolizing general image of males’ (physical strength, power, rudeness, and so on) – by sharp, abrupt, cleft sounds. The paper presents tables showing statistic data reflecting appearances of various consonants in Georgian Proper Nouns.