Translation in progress by Dr Geoffrey Gosby (member of The Oxford Georgian Translation Project): Journey to Europe by Sulkhan-Saba - This major historical work details an extraordinary journey undertaken between 1713 and 1716. The first full English translation is being conducted by Dr Geoffrey Gosby, under the supervision of Lia Chokoshvili.
Goderdzi Chokheli’s Five Short Stories: To be published in 2025 by Dedalus Europe.
Aka Morchiladze’s ‘Santa Esperanza’: This project is currently on hold pending funding.
Courses Taught
Georgian Language and Translation Skills
Biography
Having been a teacher of English in Georgia, Lia took over and greatly expanded Georgian language teaching at the University of Oxford Language Teaching Centre in 1995 following her move to the UK. This was funded by the Marjory Wardrop Foundation. In 2019 the teaching, still funded by the Wardop Foundation, was transferred to OSGA at St Antony’s College as it supports the geopolitical work based there.
In 2015 Lia founded the Oxford Georgian Translation Project with her more advanced students, with the dual purpose of expanding the students’ Georgian and translation skills and bringing more high quality Georgian literature to the English speaking world.
Educational Background
1982-1988: Tbilisi State University (Georgia), faculty of West European Languages of Literature. Qualified as BA in English language and literature. Six years is the standard length of the full course.
Research Interests
Teaching Translation skills (Translation of Georgian Literature)
Recent Publications
L Chokoshvili (Editor), “Unlocking the Door: Writing from Georgia” (Cezanne publishing): The book comprises a number of pieces translated, for the first time, by students of Oxford University: short stories, fairy tales, and plays by Aka Morchiladze (including two works that have never appeared in print before), Guram Rcheuishvili, Lasha Tabukashvili, Erlom Akhvlediani, and Goderdzi Chokheli, in a bilingual, facing-page format.
Sulkhan Saba Orbeliani’s Fables (2023, Cezanne Publishing): Translations of a selection of his fables from The Book of Wisdom and Lies (1686-1695) published more recently by members of the Oxford Georgian Translation Project.
Goderdzi Chokheli’s “Human Sadness” (2024, Dedalus Europe): This is the first English translation, of a 20th century classic. The main story takes place in the northeast of Georgia, on the southern slopes of Caucasus Mountains. The voice of the author collects harsh and strict mountain traditions and individual worries of the villagers.
