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 in Russian Federation (2010 census). No monolinguals (Ministry of Education, Adygea Republic). Ethnic population: 129,000 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 568,300.

Location

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

Language Maps
Language Status

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

Classification
Abkhaz-Adyghe, Circassian
Dialects

Shapsug (Sapsug, Shapsugi), 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. Used by all. 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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