Since childhood, as soon as I began to perceive the world, I had a silent, invisible dialogue with the moon, the sun, and the stars... with the birds that gave me examples of freedom and lightness. Moreover, if I listened closely, I could hear amazing stories behind their chirping. I was amazed by the creative, artistic shapes of the clouds and their poetic spirit. I was smiling at a bud ready to bloom, at the green grass, or at the proud, snowy mountains, and I caressed them in my own way. Reading books was like magic for me, and I could trust the writer's narrative even in the most uncomfortable environments—it captivated me because it gave me a reason to think and reflect. Meanwhile, “The Diary of Anne Frank” left such an impact on me that I grabbed a notebook and a pen, and every evening, I had been talking to the moon and the stars, telling them about the spent days; I asked them to help me find my own path.
The ffiitst draft I wrote was roughly of this content: “I want to build a hut of straws in the depths of a blue forest. I would place a small, reed bed, a bamboo table, and a chair inside the hut. Once a day, little seagulls would bring me water in a small jug and nightingales will sweeten the air with their singing...” Someone might wonder why the dense forest should be blue, but the forest's greenery does blend with the depth of the sky, sometimes it changes a colour, and thus, this was my unique expression of the search for beauty.
I think I knew from birth that I would be a philologist. I indeed became one; I had no other choice. While studying at the university, following the advice of my professors, I decided to become a researcher and, upon their recommendation, started working at the Institute of Linguistics. I later defended my dissertation and began lecturing at various universities in different countries. However, considering my nature, I couldn’t limit myself to just linguistic issues; I have always been surrounded by writers, poets, and artists—creative people—and I tried in different ways to promote our unique language and literature. Ten years ago, while working at Vilnius University, I conducted an event in collaboration with the Lithuanian Writers' Union called “Georgian-Lithuanian Literary Dialogue - Artistic Discourse”; at the same university, I organized a multi-faceted event and a documentary film was created dedicated to the Georgian.
Then I began collaborating with Caucasus University, where, by my initiative, the "Georgian Alphabet Garden" was established. It became part of the university's mission to promote the Georgian language and literature, and we have established the "Defender of the Georgian language" Award (a unique sculpture in the form of a tree adorned with the Georgian alphabet), which is annually granted to a Georgian or foreign researchers, professor, writer, or poet whose lifestyle embodies the research and promotion of the Georgian language and literature.
In recent years, I have had interesting and notable collaborations with the publishing house "Kundzuli." I've worked with the best Ukrainian writer and translator, Natalia Trokhym, and the exceptionally talented Georgian poet - Gaga Nakhutsrishvili. Together we have implemented numerous projects. Now is the time to feel and embrace the essence of Poland. In Krasnogruda, in a beautiful world rich with intellect and creative spirit, I feel as if I was reborn—I experienced and absorbed the microcosm created with immense love and knowledge by the remarkable thinker, writer, poet, and philosopher Krzysztof Czyzewsky, alongside with an extraordinary team.
The world is mysterious and beautiful; the main thing is how we see and perceive it, and fall in love with it. That is my message: listen, observe, learn, read; if you have the talent _ write, participate in the creation of a harmonious world.
Mariam Manjgaladze - CV
Employment History
Caucasus University (Georgia)
Professor, Head of the Georgian Philological Bachelor’s Program, Caucasus School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Tbilisi State University (Georgia)
Invited Lecturer
Vilnius University (Lithuania, 2015–2016)
Invited Professor & Researcher
Duzce University (Turkey, 2014–2015)
Professor
Institute of Linguistics, Tbilisi (2005–2013)
Deputy Director
Research Focus
Morphology
Sociolinguistics
Dialectology
eLearning
Publications & Projects
Publications: Author of 70 articles; co-author of 7 books
Projects & Grants: Director or coordinator of 30 + projects on Georgian Language & Literature
Notable Project:
eLearning Course of Georgian Language (GS/32/11-17759) – Project Director & Author, funded by Open Society Georgia Foundation (2010–2012)
Scientific Engagements & Academic Memberships
Project Director – “I Love Georgian – My State Language” (since 2016)
Scientific Council Member – International Congress of Lexicologists (Ilyauni) (since 2023)
Commission Member – Elisabed Orbeliani Student Translation Competition, President of Georgia (2022)
Event Organizer – European Day of Languages at Caucasus University (since 2019)
Expert Commission Member – Department of the State Language (since 2018)
Editorial Board Member – South Caucasian Chalk Circle (since 2018)
Editor – Over 40 books
National Examination Commission Member (since 2013)
Founder & Vice-Chair – Language Modeling Association (www.ena.ge) (since 2006)
Scholarships & Awards
Marie Curie Scholarship (2015–2016)
German Government Scholarship (2009–2012)
Presidential Scholarship of Georgia (1999–2001)
Residency time at the International Centre for Dialogue in Krasnogruda : March 6-25, 2025