დამფუძნებლის მიმართვა
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თემა დახურულია!
Hereby we, the members of MegrelianLanguage Group on facebook, would like to address you on the matters concerninginclusion of Megrelian language in the list of regional languages of Georgiameriting protection under the convention on European Charter for Regional orMinority Languages.
Megrelian language is the language spoken mostlyby indigenous people living in the western part of Georgia who are referred inGeorgia as Megrelebi (Megrels). The Megrelian language does not have anyinstitutional support neither in Georgia nor elsewhere in the world. WhenGeorgia became a member of the Council of Europe it undertook obligation toratify the Charter for Regional and Minority languages, but so far Georgia hasnot fulfilled its obligations.
We are aware that recently the working group of thecommittee visited Georgia and discussed issues relating to the ratification ofthe convention. Once the process is activated, we would like to you’re yourattention to some fact which makes us, the members of Megrelian languagecommunity, utterly concerned.
The Georgian Orthodox Church, especially Patriarchof Georgia, who is often referred in Georgia as the Father of Nation, haveactivated campaign in relation to Megrelian language. The church takes theposition that the qualification of Megrelian may pose threat to Gerogian unitiyand therefore, Megrel Language should be treated as a dialect of Georgian.Taking into account the huge influence the church has on government, publicofficials, populace and even over the scientists, we are afraid that Governmentof Georgia will be treating Megrel Language as dialect not meriting protectionunder the Charter. To our utter disappointment many linguists, who previouslyin their writings considered Megrelian as a language (not a dialect) relatingto Georgian, yielded themselves to the influence of church and have changedtheir positions (Mr. Futkaradze, Mr. Gvantseladze, Mrs. Gujejiani etc.). Thesescientists, often refer to political reasons (e.g. prevention of disintegrationof Georgia) for the justification of lowering Megrelian to the status ofdialect. By such a campaign, especially in light of existing territorialconflicts in Georgia, this group is gaining influence which makes us extremelyconcerned about the prospect of Megrelian Language.
We hope that while determineing the status ofMegrel Language ordinary megrel people living in megrelia and speakingmegrelian will also be contacted and their attitude to the Megrel languagetaken into account. We also hope that well known linguists from the internationaluniversities, free from religious and political influences, will also becontacted for the said purposes.
Lastly, we would like to note that due to complexsocial and political reasons Megrel Language is endangered language. Withoutany institutional support Megrel language is regarded among Georgians as thelanguage of low social class. In addition to this, it is worth of noting thatmany internally displaced persons in Georgia, especially from Abkhazia, aremegrel speaking persons who have to live in different regions of Georgia whereMegrel language is not spoken. We are afraid that these and other complexsocial, economic and political factors will eventually lead to the lose ofMegrel language.
We are committed to the development and unity ofGeorgia and peacfull co-existance of different cultures in the world. At thesame time it is our dream to have some basic guarantees for the protection ofour language. We do hope that the Megrel Language, after some estimated 2500years of its existence, will not be lost.
We also would like to refer to the example ofCornish language which was at the beginning excluded by UK Government from thelist of languages protected under the Charter. However, after lengthydiscussions with your committee the language finally was included in the list.Thus, we hope that if Georgian government decides not to include the MegrelLanguage, the same actions will be taken with regard of Megrel language by yourcommittee.
Thus, hereby we respectfully ask you to considerour position, and the members of Megrel Language Community, when holdingconsultations with the government of Georgia.
ვაიი, ამ იდეას საკმაოდ ბევრი მიმდევარი ჰყავს. ისტორიკოსი იქნება ხო კონფერენციაზე, რომ უფრო კომპეტენტურად შეაფასოს ეს უოველივე. მე ავღშფოთდი, გავგიჟდი, გადავირიე. "მრეკეთ რა ქალბატონო მარგარიტა,"– მითხარით, რომ ყველაფერს ძალიან სერიოზულად და მტკივნეულად აღვიქვავ.
ხო ისე, მეგრელებიო ვუწოდე, მაგრამ მე მათ ვაი ქართველებს ვუწოდებ, და სამეგრელოს წინაშე ბოდიშს ვიხდი, ზემოთ რომ ყველა ერთ ჯგუფში გავაერთიანე.
