Das kartwelische Dualzeichen

The Kartvelian Dual Sign

Abstract

The hypothesis that a dual marker -ნ (-n) once existed in Georgian was first proposed by Akaki Shanidze. This hypothesis was based on the traces of such a marker that he discovered in the Khevsurian dialect. According to Shanidze, the nariani plural (plural formed with the suffix -ნ) in the Georgian language must have originally been a dual number. This suffix -ნ is also observed in Laz, providing a basis for its reconstruction at the Proto-Georgian-Zan parent-language level. Svan linguistic data seem to corroborate the existence of the same suffix in a fossilised form within certain nouns. Consequently, if this hypothesis holds true, the dual marker -ნ can be reconstructed at the Proto-Kartvelian parent-language level.