Laz

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A language of Turkey

ISO 639-3
lzz
Alternate Names
Chan, Chanuri, Chanzan, Laze, Zan
Autonym
Lazuri
User Population

20,000 in Turkey (Salminen 2007). Ethnic population: 103,000 (2019). Total users in all countries: 22,000.

Location

Arkab, Artasen, Artvin, Atin, Bolu, Hopa, Kemer, Kocaeli, Rize, Sakarya, Sarp, and Vitse provinces.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Classification
Kartvelian, Zan
Dialects

Pazar (Atinuri), Hopuri, Çxaluri, Viǯur-Arkabuli, Artaşenuri. Officially considered a single language with Mingrelian [xmf], called, Zan, although not mutually inherently intelligible.

Language Use

Rapid language shift to Turkish [tur] (Salminen 2007). Also use Turkish [tur].

Language Development

Bible portions: 2020.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Laz
Writing

Georgian (Mkhedruli and Mtavruli) script [Geor], used in Georgia. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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