The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
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@Linguist_CIOL FEBRUARY/MARCH The Linguist 13 FEATURES Q How does the embassy promote Georgian culture and language in the UK? A The Georgian Season will run throughout 2020: a wide range of events unveiling rich, ancient and diverse Georgian culture, history and modernity. We are continuously looking to open new forms of partnerships through collaborations with twinned cities (Bristol and Tbilisi, Newport and Kutaisi), participation at the London Book Fair and promotion of the British Georgian Society – a platform for cultural and contemporary events. You can learn the language at the London Sunday school Lazare, Georgian Supplementary School, Oxford University and UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES). Q What is unique about the language? A Georgian (kartuli ena, ქართულიენა) belongs to the Kartvelian family. The written language uses three alphabets. The education system is based on the Mkhedruli alphabet, while the Nuskhuri and Mrgvlovani alphabets are mainly used by the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church. The living culture of three writing systems of the Georgian alphabet was recognised by Unesco in 2015. Embassy insights Q What is your favourite Georgian word? Aგამარჯობა (Gamrjoba) – the standard greeting 'hello' in Georgian means 'victory' and reflects the country's complicated past of endless invasions and wars. Q What part of the culture would you like people know about? A With an 8,000-year unbroken tradition of wine production called Qvevri, Georgia is recognised as a Cradle of Wine. This method is actively used and taught worldwide and a crucial part of our cultural heritage. The Georgian Ambassador to the UK, Tamar Beruchashvili, talks to Romana Sustar about promoting her native culture and language Q Tell us about the role of translators in Georgia's cultural history… A Marjory Scott Wardrop was a translator of Georgian culture and literature who highlights the importance of women in ensuring peace and intercultural dialogue. Her translation of an epic medieval poem, Shota Rustaveli's 'The Knight in the Panther's Skin', introduced Georgian literature to the English-speaking world. In 2019, Unesco celebrated the 150th anniversary of her birth. Her brother, Sir John Oliver Wardrop, was a translator and founder of Kartvelian Studies at Oxford University. HE Tamar Beruchashvili became Ambassador to the UK in March 2016, and was previously the Minister of Foreign Affairs and a professor at Tbilisi State University. Twitter @tberuch and @GeoEmbLondon; www.uk.mfa.gov.ge. Council member Romana Sustar MCIL CL is a multilingual Digital Marketing Manager and language tutor. Twitter @RomanaSustar Situated at the strategic regional crossroads between Europe and Asia, Georgia is a regional energy and economic hub with a unique cultural heritage. On 21 October 2019, the UK and Georgia signed a landmark Agreement on Strategic Partnership and Cooperation, which aims to establish a bilateral legal base between the countries after Brexit. FACT FILE: GEORGIA RICH HISTORY The Ambassador (inset) marks the National Day of Georgia at the UK Embassy (above)