Cognitive linguistics has redefined the concept of metaphor as the foundation for our conceptual system. Language is the most characteristic of human cognitive activities. Hence, in order to understand how humans categorize, we should try to understand human categorization in the special case of natural language.
In the present pape, the special case is the Georgian word deda ('mother') and its prototype effects.
Despite of some common formulae with European languages (for instance, deda ena/mother tongue, dedamic'a/mother earth), the great majority of metaphors based on deda shows absolutely distinct and peculiar models overtly illustrating the principle that deda means 'main, principal, essential, original'. In the given compound (see the Georgian text) deda is an adjectival component attributed to the most important notions in the life of the nation.
It is noteworthy that the principle in question has a long-term historical background, but it is still vital and productive.
Therefore, deda-metaphors can be considered among the hallmarks of the Georgian linguistic world view.