The Rector of Tbilisi State University, Academician Jaba Samushia inaugurated the 16th International Conference on the History of the Language Sciences.

Over the course of five days, Georgian and foreign scientists from 60 countries will present reports on the history of language sciences and engage in discourse on contemporary trends in language research.

The International Conference on the History of the Language Sciences (ICHoLS) has been held on a triennial basis since 1978 in a variety of countries around the globe. It brings together researchers engaged in the study of the history of language sciences. This marks the inaugural occasion of the international forum being held in Georgia.

The opening of the conference was attended by Givi Mikanadze, the chairman of the Education, Science and Youth Committee of the Parliament of Georgia; Tamar Makharashvili, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia; Giorgi Alibegashvili, the chairman of the State Language Department; Darejan Tvaltvadze, the dean of the Faculty of Humanities, participants of the conference and invited guests.

Rector Jaba Samushia asserted that the international forum is a significant event for researchers engaged in the study of the history of language sciences. He further stated that the university has a long tradition of linguistic studies. The first textbook in the Caucasus, Introduction to Linguistics, was printed at TSU. Additionally, the Society of Georgian Linguists was established, as were the Department of Caucasian Studies and the Institute of Linguistics. “I am gratified that, following the conference held in Milan, Georgia, our university is hosting this international gathering. I would like to utilize this international forum to discuss a significant challenge, namely the language issues in the occupied territories of Georgia,” stated Jaba Samushia.

Darejan Tvaltvadze, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at TSU, has indicated that the history of language sciences is attracting a growing interest and is developing at a rapid pace. This is demonstrated by the increasing number of young scholars who are engaged with the history of language sciences. This growing interest is evidenced by the inclusion of courses and seminars in university curricula that cover the history of linguistics. The conference is notable for its diverse range of topics. At the sessions, Georgian materials and reports will be extensively presented, thus providing an opportunity to make visible both the history of Georgian linguistics and the research trends of Kartvelian languages in Georgia, as well as the results achieved in this direction.

The event has been organized by Giorgi Akhvlediani Society for the History of Linguistics and Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.

As TSU Professor Tinatin Bolkvadze, one of the organizers of the conference, observed, the conference provides an optimal forum for acquiring insights into recent developments in the field of language sciences, showcasing novel research, exchanging experiences, delineating future directions, and establishing new academic connections.