A Phonetic Transformation –Facilitating Conditions for Diachronic Transformation of the Semantics of a Noun Stem

Abstract

The paper discusses linguistic potentials of a noun stem expressed at different hierarchic levels. It also examines how the stem maintains a linguistic nature throughout its history.
The paper deals with a Georgian root - დმ upon which a number of stems of
geographical nouns are based. The discussion touches upon the history of its phonetic transformation reflected in various toponyms. In addition, I emphasize the equivalents of the root in Svan and Colchian and their phonetic alterations accompanied by semasiological deviations.
The data are analyzed within the historical-comparative framework. A view of the reconstruction of a prototype on the chronological level of the common Proto- Kartvelian language is put forward.