Adyghe

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A language of Russian Federation

ISO 639-3
ady
Alternate Names
Adygei, Adygey, Kiakh, Kjax, Lower Circassian, Lowland Adyghe, West Circassian, Western Adyghe, Western Circassian
Autonym
Адыгабзэ‎ (Adəgăbză), Кӏах Адыгабзэ‎ (Kiakh Adəgăbză)
Population

117,500 (2010 census). No monolinguals (Ministry of Education, Adygea Republic). Ethnic population: 129,000 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 575,900.

Location

Adygea republic; Karachay-Cherkessia republic, Krasnodar krai, and Stavropol krai.

Language Maps
Language Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Adyghea (1995, Constitution, Adyghea Republic, Article 2).

Classification
North Caucasian, West Caucasian, Circassian
Dialects

Shapsug (Sapsug), Xakuchi, Bezhedukh (Bzedux, Bzhedug, Chemgui, Temirgoj), Abadzex (Abadzakh, Abadzeg), Natuzaj (Natukhai). Similar to Kabardian [kbd].

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

96% speak it as L1. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. All also use Russian [rus].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 99% (Ministry of Education, Adygea Republic). Literacy rate in L2: 100% (Ministry of Education, Adygea Republic). Taught in primary schools. Literature. Newspapers. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1991.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Adyghe
Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab], no longer in use. Cyrillic script [Cyrl]. Latin script [Latn], used in Turkey.

Other Comments

In the Republic of Adygea, the name ‘Adyghe’ is synonymous to Circassian, which includes both Adyghe (i.e. Western Adyghe or Western Circassian) and Kabardian [kbd] (Eastern Adyghe or Eastern Circassian). Muslim.

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