Arnold Chikobava
Encyclopedia
Arnold Stepanovich Chikobava (March 14, 1898 – November 5, 1985) was a Georgian
linguist and philologist
best known as for his contributions to the Caucasian studies as well as one of the most active critics of Nicholas Marr's controversial monogenetic "Japhetic" theory of language
.
Chikobava was born in the small village Sachikobavo in Samegrelo
, western Georgia (then part of Imperial Russia). He graduated from the recently established Tbilisi State University
(TSU) in 1922 and earned a degree there, serving as an docent
(1926-33) and professor
(1933-85). For years, he headed of the Department of Caucasian Studies at TSU (1933-60), and the Department of the Ibero-Caucasian languages
at the Institute of Linguistics in Tbilisi (1936-85). This institute, briefly directed by Chikobava from 1950 and 1952, now bears his name. In 1941, he became one of the founding members of the Georgian Academy of Sciences
and was elected to its Presidium from 1950 to 1963. For his prolific work, he was awarded numerous Soviet
and international prizes and titles. He authored of a series of Georgian dictionaries and influential works on the structure and history of Caucasian languages.
Most of his fame, however, came through his courageous criticism of Nicholas Marr's speculative linguistic theory which was adopted, for a while, as an official ideology by the Soviet scholars. While most of Marr's opponents came under heavy pressure from the Soviet authorities, Chikobava benefited from his friendship with the First Secretary of the Georgian Central Committee, Kandid Charkviani, and continued his attacks against Marr's hypotheses. Finally, he sent his report to Joseph Stalin
and met him personally in 1950. Soon, Stalin denounced Marr's theory in his famous speech on linguistics a ghost-writer of which was, most probably, Chikobava himself.
Chikobava died in Tbilisi at the age of 87. He was buried in the grounds of Tbilisi State University.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
linguist and philologist
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
best known as for his contributions to the Caucasian studies as well as one of the most active critics of Nicholas Marr's controversial monogenetic "Japhetic" theory of language
Japhetic theory (linguistics)
Japhetic theory is a term used to describe a linguistic theory developed by the Soviet linguist Nikolay Yakovlevich Marr . In linguistics it was compared by critics to Lysenkoism in biology: a theory that was promoted and supported for ideological rather than scientific reasons, because it was...
.
Chikobava was born in the small village Sachikobavo in Samegrelo
Samegrelo
Samegrelo/Samargalo or Megrelia, Mingrelia is a historic province in the western part of Georgia, formerly also known as Odishi.It is inhabited by the Megrelians, an ethnic subgroup of the Georgians.-Geography and Climate:...
, western Georgia (then part of Imperial Russia). He graduated from the recently established Tbilisi State University
Tbilisi State University
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University , better known as Tbilisi State University , is a university established on 8 February 1918 in Tbilisi, Georgia. TSU is the oldest university in the whole Caucasus region...
(TSU) in 1922 and earned a degree there, serving as an docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
(1926-33) and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
(1933-85). For years, he headed of the Department of Caucasian Studies at TSU (1933-60), and the Department of the Ibero-Caucasian languages
Ibero-Caucasian languages
The term Ibero-Caucasian was proposed by Georgian linguist Arnold Chikobava for the union of the three language families that are specific to the Caucasus area, namely* Kartvelian languages...
at the Institute of Linguistics in Tbilisi (1936-85). This institute, briefly directed by Chikobava from 1950 and 1952, now bears his name. In 1941, he became one of the founding members of the Georgian Academy of Sciences
Georgian Academy of Sciences
The Georgian National Academy of Sciences is a main learned society of the Georgia. It was named Georgian SSR Academy of Sciences until November 1990...
and was elected to its Presidium from 1950 to 1963. For his prolific work, he was awarded numerous Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and international prizes and titles. He authored of a series of Georgian dictionaries and influential works on the structure and history of Caucasian languages.
Most of his fame, however, came through his courageous criticism of Nicholas Marr's speculative linguistic theory which was adopted, for a while, as an official ideology by the Soviet scholars. While most of Marr's opponents came under heavy pressure from the Soviet authorities, Chikobava benefited from his friendship with the First Secretary of the Georgian Central Committee, Kandid Charkviani, and continued his attacks against Marr's hypotheses. Finally, he sent his report to Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
and met him personally in 1950. Soon, Stalin denounced Marr's theory in his famous speech on linguistics a ghost-writer of which was, most probably, Chikobava himself.
Chikobava died in Tbilisi at the age of 87. He was buried in the grounds of Tbilisi State University.