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The Bagvalal people
The Bagvalal people are a small ethnic group indigenous to the mountainous regions of Dagestan, in the North Caucasus of Russia. Numbering around 5,000 individuals, according to a 2002 estimate, they are part of the broader Northeast Caucasian peoples, sharing linguistic and cultural similarities with neighboring groups such as the Avars, Andis, and Didos. The Bagvalals speak the Bagvalal language, which belongs to the Avar–Andi–Dido branch of the Northeast Caucasian language family. The Bagvalals primarily reside in the Tsumadinsky District of Dagestan. Their traditional villages include Kvanada, Gimerso, Tlisi, Tlibisho, Khushtada, and Tlondada, located in rugged mountain terrain that historically provided isolation and protection. This geographic setting has helped preserve…
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The Andic languages
The Andic languages are a fascinating branch of the Northeast Caucasian language family, primarily spoken in Dagestan, Russia. This language group is important for understanding the linguistic diversity of the Caucasus region, where numerous languages coexist and interact in a relatively small geographic area. The Andic languages include several dialects and languages, which exhibit unique features and variations but share a common ancestry. Linguistically, the Andic languages are classified under the Avar–Andic branch, indicating their close ties to the Avar language, the most widely spoken language in Dagestan. The classification reflects both geographical proximity and shared linguistic characteristics. The hypothesized ancestor of this language group is called Proto-Andic, from which…
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The Avars are a significant
The Avars are a significant ethnic group predominantly found in the North Caucasus region, particularly in the Russian republic of Dagestan. They represent the largest ethnic group in Dagestan and have a rich cultural and historical heritage that dates back thousands of years. The Avars are known for their resilience and unique customs, which have been shaped by the region’s rugged terrain and diverse influences over the centuries. Historically, the Avars settled in the mountainous areas of the Caucasus, where they established ancient villages situated at high altitudes, often around 2,000 meters above sea level. This geographic isolation has helped preserve their distinct language and traditions. The Avar language, part…
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The Avar–Andic languages
The Avar–Andic languages are a significant branch of the Northeast Caucasian language family, predominantly spoken in the mountainous regions of Dagestan, Russia. This language group includes the Avar language, which is the most widely spoken within this family, boasting approximately 800,000 speakers. Avar serves not only as a primary means of communication for its speakers but also functions as a literary language for an additional 60,000 speakers of the Andic languages. The Avar–Andic languages are classified into two main subdivisions: the Avar language itself and various Andic languages. The Andic languages encompass a range of regional dialects, including Akhvakh, Bagvalal, Botlikh, Chamalal, Godoberi, Karata, and Tindi. These languages, while distinct,…
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The Northeast Caucasian languages
The Northeast Caucasian languages, also referred to as East Caucasian or Nakh-Daghestanian languages, form one of the primary language families of the Caucasus region. These languages are predominantly spoken in the Russian republics of Dagestan, Chechnya, and Ingushetia, as well as in parts of Northern Azerbaijan, Georgia, and by diaspora communities in Western Europe and the Middle East. This family encompasses approximately 36 languages, making it a highly diverse and complex linguistic group. The Northeast Caucasian languages are known for their intricate phonological systems, which often feature a large number of consonants and a high degree of morphological complexity. Many of these languages also exhibit ergative-absolutive syntactic alignment, a feature…
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The Laz people
The Laz people, also known as Lazi, are an ethnic group native to the South Caucasus, primarily residing along the Black Sea coastal regions of Turkey and Georgia. They belong to the Kartvelian language family, which includes languages like Georgian and Mingrelian. The Laz language, though traditionally spoken by the people, is now classified as endangered. In Turkey, only around 20,000 of the 103,900 ethnic Laz speak the language, while in Georgia, the language is experiencing a gradual shift towards Georgian and Turkish. Historically, the Laz people were part of the ancient kingdom of Colchis, mentioned in classical texts by authors such as Pliny the Elder and Procopius. The name…
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The Mingrelians
The Mingrelians are an ethnic subgroup of Georgians who predominantly live in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region in western Georgia. This region, often referred to simply as Samegrelo, is known for its rich cultural and historical heritage. The Mingrelians are part of the larger Kartvelian-speaking group, and their native language, Mingrelian, belongs to the Kartvelian language family, closely related to Georgian. Although Mingrelian is the primary language for many, most Mingrelians are bilingual, speaking both Mingrelian and Georgian, which is the official language of Georgia. The population of Mingrelians is estimated to be around 400,000, with communities found not only in Georgia but also in neighboring regions such as Abkhazia and…
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The Zans
The Zans are a subethnic group of the Kartvelian people, primarily speaking the Zan languages, which include Mingrelian and Laz. These languages belong to the larger Kartvelian language family, which also includes Georgian and Svan. The Zans are primarily found in the western regions of Georgia, particularly in Samegrelo (historically known as Mingrelia) and parts of Turkey along the Black Sea coast, where the Laz people live. The Zans are divided into two main subgroups: the Mingrelians and the Laz people. The Mingrelians are concentrated in the western Georgian region of Samegrelo, while the Laz people are primarily located in Turkey’s northeastern provinces, such as Rize and Artvin, though there…
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Georgians
Georgians, or Kartvelians, are an ethnic group native to the Caucasus region, primarily the country of Georgia. They are distinguished by their unique language, Georgian, which belongs to the Kartvelian language family, and by their deep cultural and historical roots in the region. The history of the Georgian people dates back to ancient times, with two significant civilizations, Colchis and Iberia, forming the foundation of modern Georgian identity. Colchis was known for its connections to the Greek world, while Iberia had influence from the Persian Achaemenid Empire before being conquered by Alexander the Great. In the 4th century, Georgians became one of the first nations to embrace Christianity, which played…
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The term Persians
The term “Persians” refers to an ethnic group primarily associated with Iran, where they form the majority of the population. They are speakers of the Persian language, also known as Farsi, and share a rich cultural and historical heritage that dates back thousands of years. The Persian people are a Western Iranian ethnic group, and their history is closely tied to the ancient Persian empires, which played a pivotal role in shaping world history. Historically, the term “Persian” is most commonly associated with the ancient Iranian people who settled in the region of Persia (modern-day Fars province in Iran) around the 9th century BCE. These early Persians established one of…
