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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Europe > Russian Federation (Europe) > Adyghe

Adyghe

A language of Russian Federation (Europe)

ISO 639-3: ady

Population	125,000 in Russian Federation (1993 UBS). Population total all countries: 499,300. Ethnic population: 128,528.
Region	Adygea Republic. Also in Australia, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Macedonia, Netherlands, Syria, Turkey (Asia), United States.
Language map	European Russia
Alternate names	Adygei, Adygey, Circassian, Kiakh, Kjax, Lower Circassian, West Circassian
Dialects	Shapsug (Sapsug), Xakuchi, Bezhedukh (Bzedux, Bzhedug, Temirgoj, Chemgui), Abadzex (Abadzakh, Abadzeg), Natuzaj (Natukhai). Most similar to Kabardian [kbd].
Classification	North Caucasian, West Caucasian, Circassian
Language use	96% speak it as L1. All domains. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Russian.
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: 99%. Literacy rate in L2: 100%. Taught in primary schools. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1992.
Writing system	Arabic script, no longer in use. Cyrillic script. Latin script, used in Turkey.
Comments	Some literature. SOV. Muslim (Sunni).

Also spoken in:

Iraq

Language name	Adyghe
Population	19,000 in Iraq (1993).
Alternate names	Adygey, West Circassian
Comments	Muslim (Sunni).

Israel

Language name	Adyghe
Population	3,000 in Israel (1987).
Region	Kafr Kama and Rehaniya, small border villages.
Alternate names	Adygey, West Circassian
Language use	Also use South Levantine Arabic [ajp].
Comments	Came about 100 years ago from the Caucasus (now the Russian Federation). Very slight dialect differences between the 2 villages. They understand radio programs in Adyghe from Jordan. Muslim (Sunni).

Jordan

Language name	Adyghe
Population	44,300 in Jordan (1986).
Language map	Jordan and Syria
Alternate names	Adygey, West Circassian
Comments	City dwellers. Muslim (Sunni).

Macedonia

Language name	Adyghe
Region	A few villages in Macedonia.
Alternate names	Adygey, West Circassian
Comments	Muslim (Sunni).

Syria

Language name	Adyghe
Population	25,000 in Syria.
Language map
Alternate names	Adygey, West Circassian
Comments	Muslim (Sunni).

Turkey (Asia)

Language name	Adyghe
Population	278,000 in Turkey (2000). 6,409 monolinguals (1965 census). Ethnic population: 130,000 in Turkey (1965 census).
Region	Central and western Anatolia, Kayseri, Tokat, Karaman Maras, many other provinces.
Alternate names	Adygey, Cherkes, Circassian
Language use	Also use Turkish [tur].
Comments	Agriculturalists. Muslim (Sunni).

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

Hoehlig, Monika. 1979. Adiĝe alfabet = Cerkesçe okuyup yazmak sanildigi kadar zor degildir. Siz de bir deneyin = Adige lesen und schreiben ist nicht so schwer, wie man glaubt. Versuch du es auch!.

Höhlig, Monika. 1987. Syntaktik und Semantik der Ergativkonstruktion am Beispiel des Tscherkessischen.

Höhlig, Monika. 1997. Kontaktbedingter sprachwandel in der adygeischen umgangssprache im Kaukasus und in der Türkei: Vergleichende analyse des russischen und türkischen einflusses in mündlichen adygeischen texten.

Wallis, Ethel E. 1987. "The dynamics of vocalic harmony in Shapsugh Circassian."

Vernacular Publications

Adiĝe alfabet = Çerkesçe okuyup yazmak sanıldığı kadar zor değildir. Siz de bir deneyin = It is not as difficult as you would think to read and write Adyghe. Try it yourself!). 1983.

Adiĝe alfabet = Çerkesçe okuyup yazmak sanıldığı kadar zor değildir. Siz de bir deneyin: Adıgabzeç'e wêcenır, txınır zeraş'oş'ırem fedizew qinep. Weri ze yeplh = Adige lesen und schreiben ist nicht so schwer, wie man glaubt. Versuch du es auch). 1990.