Dargwa

A language of Russian Federation

Dargan Medz, Dargi, Dargin, Darginski, Dargintsy, Dargva, Khiurkilinskii, Uslar

дарган мез‎ (Dargan mez)

486,000 in Russian Federation (2010 census). Ethnic population: 589,000 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 496,510.

Location

Dagestan republic.

Language Maps

Western Russian Federation

Western Russian Federation: Enlarged area

Language Status

4 (Educational). Provincially recognized language in Dagestan Autonomous Republic (1994, Constitution of Dagestan Autonomous Republic, Article 10).

Classification

Nakh-Daghestanian, Dargi

Dialects

Cudaxar (Tsudakhar), Aqusha (Akkhusha, Akusha, Aqusha-Urakhi, Urakha-Akhush, Uraxa-Axusha, Urkarax), Muirin (Muira), Sirxin (Sirhwa, Tanty), Icari (Itsari, Sanji-Icari), Chirag, Gapshima, Megeb, Amuzgi-Shiri, Amukh (Amuq, Qunqi Xuduc), Mugi. Chirag, Gapshima, Megeb, Muirin, and Tsudakhar may be separate languages from Dargwa. Similar to Kaitag [xdq] and Kubachi [ugh] which had been listed as dialects of Dargwa.

Typology

SOV; short and full adjectives; no articles; 3 genders; case-marking (6 grammatical cases, locative cases); 40 consonants and 4 vowels.

Language Use

98% are L1 speakers. Many also use Kumyk [kum]. Also use Russian [rus].

Language Development

Literature. Newspapers. Periodicals. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 2002–2013.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Dargwa

Writing

Cyrillic script [Cyrl].

Other Comments

Muslim.