16th edition

US$ 100.00

Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > Georgia > Georgian

Georgian

A language of Georgia

ISO 639-3: kat

Population	3,900,000 in Georgia (1993 UBS). Population total all countries: 4,255,270. Ethnic population: 3,981,000 (1993 UBS).
Region	Also in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation (Asia), Tajikistan, Turkey (Asia), Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan.
Alternate names	Common Kartvelian, Gruzinski, Kartuli
Dialects	Imeretian, Racha-Lexchxum (Lechkhum), Gurian, Adzhar (Acharian), Imerxev Kartlian, Kaxetian (Kakhetian), Ingilo, Tush, Xevsur (Kheysur), Moxev (Mokhev), Pshav, Mtiul, Ferejdan, Meskhur-Javakhuri. Imerxev is in Turkey, Ferejdan may no longer be spoken in Iran.
Classification	Kartvelian, Georgian
Language use	Official language. Meskhi are ethnically Georgian, speak Georgian, are Eastern Orthodox, and live in southwest Georgia.
Language development	Fully developed. Bible: 1743–1989.
Writing system	Georgian script, Mkhedruli style.
Comments	Adzhai Muslims are in Armenia. South Caucasian also called ‘Kartvelian’. ‘Gruzinski’ is the Russian name. SVO. Christian, Muslim (Sunni and Shi’a).

Also spoken in:

Azerbaijan

Language name	Georgian
Population	16,300 in Azerbaijan (2000).
Language map	Azerbaijan

Iran

Language name	Georgian
Population	60,000 in Iran.
Region	Fereydan and Fereydunshahr provinces, Esfahan, Najaf Abad, Shahin Shahr, Yazdanshahr.
Alternate names	Gruzin, Kartuli
Dialects	Fereydan (Ferejdan).
Comments	Muslim.

Turkey (Asia)

Language name	Georgian
Population	40,000 in Turkey (1980). 4,042 monolinguals (1965 census). Ethnic population: 91,000.
Region	North and northwest Anatolia, Artvin, Ordu, Sakarya, and other provinces.
Alternate names	Gruzin, Kartuli
Dialects	Imerxev.
Language use	Also use Turkish [tur].
Comments	Muslim (Sunni).

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

CLIFTON, John M., editor. 2003. Studies in languages of Azerbaijan, vol 2.

CLIFTON, John M.; DECKINGA, Gabriela; MAK, Janfer; TIESSEN, Calvin, authors. 2003. "The sociolinguistic situation of the Inghiloi of Azerbaijan."

CLIFTON, John M.; DECKINGA, Gabriela; MAK, Janfer; TIESSEN, Calvin, authors. 2005. "The sociolinguistic situation of the Inghiloi of Azerbaijan."