Svan
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A language of Georgia
14,000 in Georgia (Leclerc 2015), decreasing. Ethnic population: 15,000 (2000 A. Kibrik). Total users in all countries: 14,071.
Racha-Lechkhumi-Kvemo Svaneti region: Lentekhi municipality; Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region: Mestia municipality.
6b (Threatened).
Upper Bal, Lower Bal, Lashkh (Lashx), Lentekh (Lentekhian, Lentex), Cholur (Cholurian). Svan is mutually unintelligible with Georgian [kat], even though the Svan community has long considered itself to be part of the Georgian nation (2019 K. Tuite).
30 consonants and 18 vowels in 3 dialects (Cholur, Lashkh, Upper Bal) with long and short vowel phonemes, 9 vowels in 2 dialects (Lentekh and Lower Bal).
All domains. Some young people, all adults. Positive attitudes. All also use Georgian [kat].
Dictionary. Texts.
Many Georgian [kat] speakers still claim Svan ethnicity (Salminen 2007). Christian.