Linguistic Analysis of the Law of Georgia on Foreign Influence Transparency

Abstract

This study presents a linguistic analysis of Georgia's Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence utilizing three primary analytical approaches. First, a lexical-semantic analysis of terms assesses the specificity and precision of the terms within the law. Second, corpus-linguistic analysis employs text corpora—extensive electronic text collections—to examine word combinations (collocations) and their connotations. Finally, the discursive analysis explores the law’s argumentative structure and the legislative discourse, considering contemporary and historical contexts. The findings across these analyses reveal the following patterns. The law’s title and text embedded with these terms seem to overlook the nuanced socio-cultural and historical contexts, particularly the legacies of imperial oppression. The research underscores that the law's conceptual and terminological framework is inherently hostile. The key terms and their modifiers carry negative semantic weight, contributing to a legal language that alienates citizens, stigmatizes foreign-funded civil society and media organizations, and facilitates their marginalization. The key terms in the law have historically and currently negative connotations. These terms evoke associations linked to Georgia's past experiences of repression and discrimination, resonating with aggressive and humiliating undertones. The analysis highlights the need for a more balanced and contextually sensitive legal language to avoid perpetuating historical prejudices and to support democratic and civil progress.

Cite as: Tabatadze et al., JLL 14 (2025), 256–289, DOI: 10.14762/jll.2025.256

Keywords

linguistic analysis, lexical-semantic analysis of terms, corpus-linguistic analysis, discursive framework, law of Georgia on transparency of foreign influence

Author Biography

Shalva Tabatadze

Shalva Tabatadze, PhD, is a professor at East European University and has chaired the Centre for Civil Integration and Inter-Ethnic Relations (CCIIR) since 2005. His research focuses on educational policy, language education, language policy, discourses in education, bilingual and minority education, multicultural education, higher education internationalization, science policy and management and education funding. Dr. Tabatadze has served as an expert and consultant for numerous international organizations and contributed to over 60 research and education projects. He has also worked as an international consultant in Moldova, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, bringing extensive experience in educational reform and policy development across diverse sociopolitical contexts.

Kakha Gabunia

Kakha Gabunia- Ph.D

• Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University

E-mail: kakha.gabunia@tsu.ge

Cell: (995-577) 50-55-52;

Office Address: Suite 90, 8 Mtskheta Street, Tbilisi, Georgia

Doctor of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Humanities, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.  He has worked at Arn. Chikobava Institute of Linguistics, the State Chamber of Language of Georgia, and the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. Kakha Gabunia is the author of 12 studies/monographs, over 80 scientific articles, and around 30 textbooks, and has edited approximately 60 books. He has been actively involved in the digitalization of the Georgian language and corpus linguistics activities. His primary interests include teaching Georgian as a second language and exploring theoretical and practical aspects of multilingual education. Kakha Gabunia is involved in numerous international projects implemented by various organizations.

Marina Beridze

Marina Beridze- PhD

Doctor of Philology. Marina Beridze graduated from the Faculty of Philology at Tbilisi State University (TSU) in 1982. Since then, she has worked at the Arnold Chikobava Institute of Linguistics at TSU, and since 2006, she has led the Department of Computer Processing of Linguistic Data. For more than 20 years, she has headed the mega-project "Linguistic Portrait of Georgia." She is also an expert in linguistics for several state organizations. From March 2018 to April 2024, she was the head of a unit at the State Language Department, during which time she led the development of the State Language Strategy for 2021-2030 and other key policy documents. Her concept laid the groundwork for the "State Language Portal." She is an instructor at Tbilisi State University, Ilia State University, and Samtskhe-Javakheti State University.

Marina Beridze is the author and co-author of ten books (monographs and dictionaries) and has planned and implemented more than 10 projects under the "Linguistic Portrait of Georgia" initiative. She has around 100 publications in Georgian and international scientific collections. Her scientific interests include the Georgian language and its dialects, corpus linguistics, language documentation, language contact, island dialectology, language policy, educational lexicography, and corpus lexicography.

Zakharia Pourtskhvanidze

Zakharia Pourtskhvanidze  is a scholar at the Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia. Zakharia Pourtskhvanidze has extensive experience in research and teaching. From 2009 to 2020, he was a research associate and coordinator of training programs at the Institute of Empirical Linguistics at Goethe University in Frankfurt. From 2020 to 2023, he led a project under the LOEWE program, focusing on minority languages and identity. He has actively participated in numerous international conferences and scientific forums and is the author and editor of several scientific articles, books, and corpora. Zakharia Pourtskhvanidze has been recognized with multiple prestigious awards, including the Georgian Medal of Honor in 2020.

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