ჰიდრონიმი „ბერდუჯი“

Abstract

The paper provides a historical and linguistic analysis of Hydronium Berduji (also known as Sagimi, Debeda, and Dzegamchai). The Berduji River was historically bounded by the border; This river was the south-eastern border of Kartli, then United Georgia’s border with Albania-Aran. The Berduji River crosses all three countries of the South Caucasus (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan), where the borders changed from time to time and, consequently, the name of this river changed. Hydronym Berduji is confirmed in Georgian historical sources; Studying the data of “Kartlis Tskhovreba” about Berduji in all editions (M (Machabeli), T (Teimurazi), B (Brose), R (Rumiantsev - edited by S. Kaukhchishvili)) suggest that all forms exist (Sherdaoji, Berdujis, Berduaji, Berdaji), but, I believe, the initial form should be “Berduji”. Vakhushti Batonishvili connects the name of the river Berduji with the village - Berd-ik. In Georgian the suffix –uj is rarely used (Duruj- i, Artan-uj-i). (Cf. Armenian Բերդիկ - Berdik - “Berdik” - a small fortress). The old Armenian translation of “Kartlis Tskhovreba” (published by Il. Abuladze - 1953) refers to Բերդահոջ - Berdahoj - “Berdahoj / Berdaoji”. The report discusses all the confirmed forms and variants, compares them with the Armenian lexical unit Berd-; It is compared with the Artan-uj-i form of a similar structure and the opinion is expressed that the -uj suffix in the analytical hydronym Berd-uj-i is the Georgian suffix, which spread into Armenian as a result of intensive linguistic contacts.