ABKHAZ: a language of Georgia

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: ABK

ISO 639-1: ab

ISO 639-2: abk

Population	101,000 in Georgia (1993), 94% speak it as mother tongue. Population total all countries 105,000 (1993 UBS).
Region	Abkhaz ASSR within Georgia, Black Sea coast. Also spoken in Turkey (Asia), Ukraine.
Alternate names	ABXAZO
Dialects	BZYB, ABZHUI, SAMURZAKAN.
Classification	North Caucasian, Northwest, Abkhaz-Abazin.
Comments	Christian. Bible portions 1912-1981.

Also spoken in:

Turkey (Asia)

Language name	ABKHAZ
Population	4,000 first language speakers (1980), out of 35,000 in Turkey (1993 Johnstone).
Alternate names	ABXAZO
Dialects	BZYB, ABZHUI, SAMURZAKAN.
Comments	96% bilingual in Turkish. Agriculturalists. Sunni Muslim. Bible portions 1912-1981. See main entry under Georgia.