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On May 15, the Center for Georgian-Ossetian Relations at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University held an event dedicated to the Ossetian Language Day. The event was also dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the death of Ivane Javakhishvili, a Georgian historian, public figure, and co-founder of Tbilisi State University. It also honored the memory of Vasil Abaev, an Ossetian linguist, lexicographer, folklorist and ethnographer.
Giorgi Alibegashvili, chairman of the State Language Department, welcomed the event’s participants and spoke to the audience about the importance of the Ossetian language.
May 15 is symbolically connected to the first publication (May 15, 1899) of the poetry collection Ossetian Lyre by Kosta Khetagurov, the founder of the Ossetian literary language. Notably, Ilia Chavchavadze devoted significant attention to publishing Khetagurov’s poetry collection, as evidenced by a special letter in the newspaper Iveria.
The Ossetian language belongs to the Iranian group of the Indo-European language family. However, it also contains elements characteristic of Caucasian languages. The scientific study of Ossetian is closely related to the Georgian scientific school. Noteworthy researchers in this field include: Giorgi Akhvlediani, Vasil Abaev, Mzia Andronikashvili, Olga Tedeeva, Arnold Chikobava, Akaki Shanidze, Nafi Jusoiti, Tamerlan Guriev and others. The study of Ossetian language, folklore and literature continues in the Georgian academic space.
The Scientific-Research Center for Georgian-Ossetian Relations has operated at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University since 2015. In recent years, the Center has published scientifically and practically valuable books, including Georgian-Ossetian and Ossetian-Georgian Dictionary (chief editor Naira Bepiev), a bilingual collection of the Nart sagas (compiler, translator and chief editor Naira Bepiev), an encyclopedia-album Georgian-Ossetian Relations (compiler and chief editor Naira Bepiev), and a bibliography of Ossetian books (Naira Bepiev), etc.
