Kabardian
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A language of Russian Federation
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
East Circassian, Eastern Adyghe, Eastern Circassian, Highland Adyghe, Kabard, Kabardin, Kabardino-Cherkes, Kabardo-Cherkess, Kabardo-Cherkessian, Upper Adyghe, Upper Circassian
Autonym
Къэбэрдей Адыгэбзэ (Qăbărdey Adəgăbză)
Population
516,000 in Russian Federation (2010 census). 36,700 monolinguals (2002 census). Ethnic population: 590,000 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 1,702,500.
Location
Kabardino-Balkar republic, North Ossetia-Alania republic, Stavropol krai.
Language Maps
Language Status
5* (Developing).
Classification
Dialects
Greater Kabardian, Baksan, Lesser Kabardian, Malka, Mozdok, Kuban, Cherkes, Beslenei (Beslenej). Similar to Adyghe [ady].
Language Development
Taught in primary and secondary schools. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1993–2007.
Language Resources
Writing
Cyrillic script [Cyrl].
The ethnonym ‘Adyghe’ is synonymous with Circassian and encompasses both Kabardian (Eastern Adyghe or Eastern Circassian) and Adyghe [ady] (i.e. Western Adyghe or Western Circassian). Muslim.