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  • rgersamia@iliauni.edu.ge
  • 45 Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue, Tbilisi. Room E246

Rusudan Gersamia

Direction:Georgian Philology
Position:Associate Professor

Rusudan Gersamia holds a PhD in Philology and is a specialist in Kartvelian languages. Since 2019, she has been an Associate Professor at Ilia State University. She has twenty years of research experience and works on the computational processing of the Megrelian and Laz languages using various technological approaches.

Between 2021 and 2024, together with her colleagues, she created a morphologically annotated corpus of the Megrelian language – MLC (https://xmf.iliauni.edu.ge/), which constitutes a comprehensive linguistic resource based on field materials collected in Samegrelo and processed according to modern international standards. Her recent publications include corpus-based studies.

Rusudan Gersamia also conducts research and teaching activities in the field of Georgian as a second/foreign language.

 

Scientific interests / research interests
  • Formal Grammar and Semantics of Kartvelian Languages
  • Applied Linguistics
  • Corpus Linguistics / Language Technologies
  • Field Linguistics
  • Georgian as a Second/Foreign Language

Data set 

Gersamia, R., & Lobzhanidze, I. (Eds.). (2022, April 4). The Megrelian Language Corpus (MLC). (Version 1)  https://xmf.iliauni.edu.ge/

Monographs

  • Kobalava, R. Gersamia. Linguistic Representation of Space and Motion (An Analysis of Data from the Megrelian and Laz Languages). 250 pp. Ilia State University, Tbilisi, 2020. [In English.]
  • Gersamia. Linguistic Representation of Space and Motion (An Analysis of Data from the Laz Language). 261 pp. Ilia State University, Tbilisi, 2020.
  • Gersamia, Z. Kikvidze, M. Lomia, N. Mamiseishvili, M. Saghliani. Phonosemantic Vocabulary in the Kartvelian Languages. 497 pp. Innovation, Tbilisi, 2016.
  • Lomia, R. Gersamia. Interlinear Morphemic Glossing (Morphological Analysis of Megrelian Texts) — Part 1 (168 pp.); Megrelian Texts (with Georgian Translation) — Part 2 (199 pp.). Ilia State University, Tbilisi, 2012.
  • Kartozia, R. Gersamia, M. Lomia, T. Tskhadaia. Linguistic Analysis of Megrelian. 699 pp. Meridiani, Tbilisi, 2010.

Featured publications

  • Lobzhanidze I., Gersamia R., & Gogia, T. (2026). The Megrelian Language Corpus (MLC): Creation, Annotation, and Initial Steps toward a UD Treebank. In Proceedings of the Fifteenth Language Resources and Evaluation Conference (LREC 2026) (pp. 3250–3256). European Language Resources Association (ELRA).
  • Gersamia R., Lobzhaidze I. (2025) Encoding the Progressive Aspect in  Megrelian Verbs: Bulletin of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences (Moambe).vol 19 (1).  113-118.
  • Gersamia, R., & Lobzhanidze, I. (2025). Code-mixing patterns in a corpus-based Megrelian–English dictionary. In T. Margalitadze (Ed.), Lexicography in the XXI century: Proceedings of the II International Conference (pp. 60–64). Centre for Lexicography and Language Technologies, Ilia State University.
  • Lobzhanidze, I., & Gersamia, R. (2025). A corpus-based dictionary for the endangered Megrelian language. In I. Kosem, M. Jakubíček, M. Medveď, K. Zgaga, Š. Arhar Holdt, T. Munda, & A. Salgado (Eds.), Electronic lexicography in the 21st century (eLex 2025): Intelligent lexicography. Proceedings of the eLex 2025 conference (pp. 561-583). Lexical Computing CZ
  • Lobzhanidze, I., Gersamia, R., & Tsulaia, N. (2024). Compiling a bilingual Megrelian-English online dictionary: Preserving endangered Kartvelian languages. In K. Š. Despot, A. Ostroški Anić, & I. Brač (Eds.), Lexicography and semantics (pp. 647–661). Proceedings of the XXI EURALEX International Congress. European Association for Lexicography
  • Gersamia, R., & Lobzhanidze, I. (2023). Documentation and annotation of Megrelian texts in FLEx. Language and Culture, 29, pp. 46–50.
  • Gersamia, R., & Lobzhanidze, I. (2023). Preserving endangered Kartvelian languages: Lexicographic insights for a Megrelian dictionary. In Proceedings of the Lexicography in the XXI Century Conference (pp. 104–113).
  • Gersamia, R., Lobzhanidze, I., Skhulukhia, T., & Tsulaia, N. (2023). Documentation of the Megrelian language: Report of a linguistic expedition to Samegrelo (2022–2023). Kadmos, (15), pp. 123–135.
  • Gersamia, R. (2022). The Linguistic Construction of Space in Megrelian and Laz. Book chapter in Issues in Kartvelian Studies // Kartvelian Languages, ed. T. Makharoblidze. Vernon Press, USA, pp. 73–106.
  • Gersamia, R. (2022). The Morphonemics of Verbal Prefixes in Megrelian. Book chapter in Construire sur les décombres de Babel: Building on Babel’s Rubble, eds. N. Bonnet, O. Matushansky, D. Harbour, and I. Roy. Presses Universitaires de Vincennes (PUV), pp. 37–59.
  • Makharoblidze, T., & Gersamia, R. (2022). Mountainous Samegrelo: General Description and Linguistic Situation. Book chapter in The Sociolinguistic Vitality of Languages in Mountain Massifs: The Alps and the Caucasus. Series: Lingue d’Europa e del Mediterraneo, 17. Eds. F. Scotti, X. Georgievic-Leonard, and J. Leo Leonard. Paul-Valéry University Montpellier, pp. 303–324.
  • Kobalava, I., & Gersamia, R. (2020). Semantic Components of Adverbs in Megrelian and Laz. Bulletin of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 14, No. 2.
  • Gersamia, R. (2019). Problems of the Dialectal Classification of the Laz Language and the Peculiarities of the Khopuri-Chkhalluri Dialect. Issues in Linguistics.
  • Kikvidze, Z., Gersamia, R., & Lomia M. (2018). Phonosemantic Reduplication Patterns in the Kartvelian Languages: Linguistics Beyond and Within (LingBaW), John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Faculty of Humanities, Poland, Vol. 4, 2018, pp. 92–107.

 

For a comprehensive list of publications, see the CV.

Current Courses

Undergraduate Courses

  • Morphology 1 (Nouns)
  • Morphology 2 (Verb and Uninflected Parts of Speech)
  • Syntax of the Georgian Language
  • Kartvelian Languages (Megrelian)
  • Kartvelian Languages (Laz)
  • Practicum in Georgian Language Morphology

 

Master’s Courses

  • Seminar in the Systemic Morphology of the Georgian Language
  • Grammatical Analysis of Megrelian-Laz Languages and Contemporary Linguistic Theories

 

Georgian as a Second Language and Integration Program

  • Georgian Language A1–A2, A2–B2, B1–B2
  • Georgian Language Grammar for Communication

 

Supervision of master’s Theses

  • PFM Analysis of the Megrelian Polypersonal Verb (Mariam Nadaraia, 2024)
  • Verbal Grammatical Homonymy in Georgian: A Corpus-Linguistic Analysis (Shogik Mshetsiani, 2024)
  • Analysis of Morphosyntactic Agreement Problems in Teaching Georgian as a Second Language (Natia Andguladze, 2024)
  • Analysis of Problems Related to Verbal Morphosyntax in Teaching Georgian as a Second Language (Natia Maziashvili, 2024)
  • Modeling and Lemmatization of Motion and Movement Verbs in the Corpus (Juansher Tsikarishvili, 2023)
  • The X’-Schema and Projection of the Georgian and Megrelian Phrase (Tamar Gogia, 2022)
  • Formal Modeling of Third-Series Verb Forms in Georgian (Salome Popkhadze, 2020)
  • Formal Modeling of the Potentialis in the Kartvelian Languages (Tamuna Skhulukhia, 2020)
  • Towards a Typology of Verbal Models in the Kartvelian Languages: Passive Voice Models in Middle Georgian and Megrelian (Mariam Ghvinjilia, 2019; co-supervisor)

 

Scientific Projects and Research Grants

  • Address Systems in Megrelian and Laz (2024–2026). Researcher. Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (FR-23-5495).
  • An Annotated Corpus of the Megrelian Language with a Formal Grammar and Electronic Dictionary (2021–2025). Project Director. Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (FR/#217344).
  • Semantic components of Megrelian and Laz (SCML) (2016-2020): Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (FR/ #217344) & Ilia State University. Researcher.
  • Nationale Corpus of Georgian Language – Technological frame (2014-2015). Volkswagen Foundation (VolkswagenStiftung) (AZ 86154) & Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany). Researcher.
  • Space and Time in Kartvelian Languages (2013-2016): Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (D/#13/20) & Ilia State University. Researcher.
  • Phonosemantic Vocabulary in Kartvelian Languages (Structure, Semantics, Pragmatics) (2013-2016). Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (FR/#31/20)& Ilia State University. Researcher. Projects Director.
  • Electronic Corpus of Megrelian (2009-2012). Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (A-43-09) & Ilia State University. Researcher.
  • Preparation for publication of the monograph “ Linguistic Analysis of Megrelian” (2006-2009), Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation (FR/#021-08) & Ilia State University. Researcher.

 

Public Lectures and Seminars (Selected)

  • Documentation of Kartvelian Languages and Data Annotation Using FLEX and ELAN. Organizer: Ilia State University, Institute for Linguistic Studies. 2024.
  • Tutorial within the SCML Project: Preverbs and Adverbs in Megrelian and Laz (Structural and Semantic Components). Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation; Ilia State University. 2019.
  • Tutorial within the international LaDyCA research project: Documenting and Analyzing Variation in Endangered Kartvelian Languages within the Framework of the Language Dynamics Theory. Ilia State University; Sorbonne University (France). 2017.

 

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Presentations at International Scientific Conferences and Events (Selected)

  • R. Gersamia, I. Lobzhanidze, T. Gogia. Corpus-Based Evidence for Morphological Patterns in Contemporary Megrelian. LingBaw_2026, 22–23 October, Lublin, Poland.
  • T. Gogia, R. Gersamia. The Grammar of Vocatives in Kartvelian Languages: From Propositional Structure to Interactional Structure. LingBaw_2026, 22–23 October, Lublin, Poland.
  • R. Gersamia, I. Lobzhanidze. Structural Variation and Contact-Induced Change in Megrelian under Conditions of Language Shift. Variation and Change in Endangered Languages, University of Hamburg, International Workshop, 1–2 October 2026.
  • R.  Gersamia, T. Gogia. Reconstructing Common Kartvelian Ethnostyle through Endearing Terms of Address. IX International Academic Conference HUMAN: LANGUAGE, SOCIETY, CULTURE, 15 June 2026, Daugavpils, Latvia.
  • I. Lobzhanidze, R. Gersamia. From Interlinear Annotation to a UD Treebank for the Megrelian Language. 4th UniDive General Meeting, Bucharest, Romania, 27–28 August 2026.
  • I. Lobzhanidze, R. Gersamia, T. Gogia. The Megrelian Language Corpus (MLC): Creation, Annotation, and Initial Steps toward a UD Treebank. LREC_2026, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 11–16 May 2026.
  • I. Lobzhanidze, R. Gersamia. A Corpus-Based Dictionary for the Endangered Megrelian Language. ELEX 2025: Electronic Lexicography in the 21st Century: Intelligent Lexicography, 18–20 November 2025, Bled, Slovenia.
  • R. Gersamia. On Some Sociolinguistic Rules of Address in Megrelian and Laz. International Network of Address Research (INAR 8) — From Tradition to Transformation: Rethinking Addressivity, Rethinking Forms of Address, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, Portugal, 17–19 July 2025.
  • R. Gersamia, I. Lobzhanidze. Code-Mixing Patterns in a Corpus-Based Megrelian-English Dictionary. II International Conference Lexicography in the 21st Century, Ilia State University, 10–12 October 2025.
  • R. Gersamia, I. Lobzhanidze. Results of Grammaticalization in the Megrelian Verb TAME System: The Paradigm of Conditionals. LACIM 2024 — Second International Conference: Grammaticalization in Anatolia-Caucasus-Iran-Mesopotamia Area, LACIM_2024, 4–5 December 2024.
  • R. Gersamia. Preserving and Documenting the Endangered Megrelian Language: A Corpus for Linguistic Analysis and Lexical Study. South Caucasian Week in Paris, Paris 8, presentation within the Erasmus+ Program, Paris, France, 2024.
  • I. Lobzhanidze, R. Gersamia, N. Tsulaia. A Collection of a Bilingual Megrelian-English Online Dictionary (Preserving Endangered Kartvelian Languages). XXI International Congress of Lexicography and Semantics, EURALEX, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 2024.
  • R. Gersamia, I. Lobzhanidze. Analyzing Megrelian Texts in FLEx: From Processing Field Data to Morphological Annotation. Seminar of the Institute for Linguistic Studies, Ilia State University: Documentation of Kartvelian Languages and Data Annotation in FLEx and ELAN, 9 February 2024.
  • R. Gersamia, I. Lobzhanidze. Preserving Endangered Kartvelian Languages: Lexicographic Data for the Megrelian Dictionary. I International Conference Lexicography in the 21st Century, 10–12 November 2023, Center for Lexicography and Language Technologies, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia, 2023.
  • R. Gersamia, I. Lobzhanidze. Annotating Megrelian Texts in FLEx. International Conference South Caucasian Chalk Circle 3 (SCCC-3), 2–4 October 2023, Tbilisi, Georgia.
  • R. Gersamia, I. Lobzhanidze, N. Tsulaia. Theoretical and Practical Framework for an Oral Corpus of the Megrelian Language. International Scientific Conference Modern Language Technologies — Technologies for a Multilingual Internet (LMT2022), Tbilisi, Georgia, 2022.
  • R. Gersamia, Kartvelian Languages as Morphologically Rich Languages, 7th International Scientific Conference “Language and Culture” (Kutaisi, Georgia), 2022.
  • R. Gersamia, Features of Morphosyntactic Annotation of Morphologically Rich Languages (Analysis of Georgian Language Examples). Languages in the Digital Era: Modern Technologies for Low-Resource Languages (Tbilisi, Georgia), 2021.
  • R. Gersamia, N. Tsulaia, Spatial Verbal Prefixes in Megrelian and Laz. LingBaW 2021, 8th International Linguistic Conference “Linguistics Beyond and Within,” John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (Lublin, Poland), 2021.
  • R. Gersamia, Fictive Motion Construction in Kartvelian Languages. 7th International Linguistic Conference “Linguistics Beyond and Within” (LingBaW 2019), John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (Lublin, Poland), 2019.
  • R. Gersamia, Fictive Motion Construction in Megrelian (Path, Sun, Time). International Conference NAMED_2019 – Neglected Aspects of Motion (CNRS-ENS, Paris, France), 2019.
  • R. Gersamia, M. Tophadze, Deontic and Voluntative Modality – Constructions and Paradigms in Kartvelian Languages. 10th International Conference on Constructional Grammar (ICCG 10), July 15–18, 2018, Paris, France.
  • R. Gersamia, S. Daraselia, POS Tagging of Georgian and Megrelian Verbs. International Workshop Computational Approaches to Morphologically Rich Languages (CAMRL 2018), School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds (United Kingdom), July 3, 2018.
  • R.Gersamia, S. Daraselia, Laz in Georgia and Turkey: Past and Present. International Workshop Endangered Language and Nature, School of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of Leeds (United Kingdom), July 2, 2018.
  • I. Kobalava, R. Gersamia, M. Topadze, N. Tsulaia, The System of Spatial Relations in Megrelian and Laz. International Conference Linguistic and Literary Studies on the Caucasus, May 25–26, 2018, University of Verona, Italy.
  • R.Gersamia, N. Sharashenidze, Morphologization of Modal Particles in Kartvelian Languages. 18th International Morphology Meeting (IMM18), Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest University, May 11–14, 2018, Budapest, Hungary.

https://electure-ms.studiumdigitale.uni-frankfurt.de/vod/clips/4ynFgQ5XiT/mobile.mp4

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