Adyghe
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A language of Russian Federation
ISO 639-3
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
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
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.