Abkhaz

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A language of Georgia

ISO 639-3
abk
Alternate Names
Abkhazian, Abxazo
Autonym
аҧсуа бызшәа‎ (Aṗsua byzšwa), аҧсшәа‎ (Aṗsšwa)
User Population

129,000 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015). Total users in all countries: 194,710.

Location

Abkhazia region: Black Sea coast, separate areas near Gudaut’a and Och’amch’re.

Language Maps
Language Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Abkhazia, co-official with Georgian (1995, Constitution, Article 8).

Classification
Abkhaz-Adyghe, Abkhaz-Abazin
Dialects

Bzyb, Abzhywa (Abzhui), Samurzakan, Sadz, Ahchypsy, Tsabal. Closely related to Abaza [abq].

Language Use

94% speak it as L1. Used as L2 by Mingrelian [xmf].

Language Development

Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2015.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Abkhaz
Writing

Cyrillic script [Cyrl], used since 1860s. Georgian (Mkhedruli and Mtavruli) script [Geor], no longer in use. Latin script [Latn], used since 1984, used in Turkey.

Other Comments

Christian, Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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