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| speakers = 22,300
| speakers = 22,300
| date = 2010-2011
| date = 2010-2011
| ref = <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/tkr|title=Tsakhur|work=Ethnologue|access-date=2018-07-31|language=en|archive-date=2018-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731093057/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/tkr|url-status=live}}</ref>
| ref = <ref name="Ethnologue">{{Cite web |title=Tsakhur |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/tkr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729205208/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/tkr |archive-date=2019-07-29 |access-date=2021-12-11 |website=Ethnologue |language=en}}</ref>
| familycolor = Caucasian
| familycolor = Caucasian
| fam1 = [[Northeast Caucasian languages|Northeast Caucasian]]
| fam1 = [[Northeast Caucasian languages|Northeast Caucasian]]
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}}
}}


'''Tsakhur''' ({{lang-az|Saxur dili}}; {{lang-ru|Цахурский язык}}) is a language spoken by the [[Tsakhur people|Tsakhurs]] in northern [[Azerbaijan]] and southwestern [[Dagestan]] ([[Russia]]). It is spoken by about 13,000 people in Azerbaijan and by about 9,770 people in Dagestan.<ref name="Ethnologue">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=tkr |title=Ethnologue entry for Tsakhur |access-date=2009-12-31 |archive-date=2012-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020223820/http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=tkr |url-status=live }}</ref> The word ''Tsakhur'' derives from the name of a Dagestani village where speakers of this language make up the majority.
'''Tsakhur''' ({{lang-az|Saxur dili}}; {{lang-ru|Цахурский язык}}) is a language spoken by the [[Tsakhur people|Tsakhurs]] in northern [[Azerbaijan]] and southwestern [[Dagestan]] ([[Russia]]). It is spoken by about 11,700 people in Azerbaijan and by about 10,600 people in Russia.<ref name="Ethnologue" /> The word ''Tsakhur'' derives from the name of a Dagestani village where speakers of this language make up the majority.


Although Tsakhur is [[endangered language|endangered]] in communities in closest contact with [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]], it is vigorous in other communities, gaining prominence in the region, seen in the growth of interest in learning Tsakhur in school and a growing body of Tsakhur-learning materials.<ref name="slsta">[http://www.sil.org/silesr/2005/silesr2005-016.pdf The Sociolinguistic Situation of the Tsakhur in Azerbaijan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314080721/http://www.sil.org/silesr/2005/silesr2005-016.pdf |date=2012-03-14 }} by John M. Clifton et al. ''SIL International'', 2005</ref> Tsakhur is classified as "definitely endangered" by [[UNESCO]]'s [[Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?pg=00206 |title=UNESCO Interactive Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger |access-date=2010-03-25 |archive-date=2009-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222090430/http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?pg=00206 |url-status=live }}</ref> <!--UNESCO Endangered Language Criteria: 1. Vulnerable, 2. Definitely Endangered, 3. Severely Endangered, 4. Critically Endangered, 5. Extinct-->
Although Tsakhur is [[endangered language|endangered]] in communities in closest contact with [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]], it is vigorous in other communities, gaining prominence in the region, seen in the growth of interest in learning Tsakhur in school and a growing body of Tsakhur-learning materials.<ref name="slsta">{{Citation |last=Clifton |first=John M. |title=The Sociolinguistic Situation of the Tsakhur in Azerbaijan |date=2005 |url=http://www.sil.org/silesr/2005/silesr2005-016.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314080721/http://www.sil.org/silesr/2005/silesr2005-016.pdf |publisher=SIL International |archive-date=2012-03-14 |last2=Tiessen |first2=Calvin |last3=Deckinga |first3=Gabriela |last4=Lucht |first4=Laura |mode=cs1}}</ref> Tsakhur is classified as "definitely endangered" by [[UNESCO]]'s [[Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO Interactive Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger |url=http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?pg=00206 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222090430/http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?pg=00206 |archive-date=2009-02-22 |access-date=2010-03-25 |website=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization}}</ref> <!--UNESCO Endangered Language Criteria: 1. Vulnerable, 2. Definitely Endangered, 3. Severely Endangered, 4. Critically Endangered, 5. Extinct-->


==Classification==
==Classification==
Line 30: Line 30:


==History==
==History==
The first written documentation of Tsakhur dates back to 1895 and is attributed to [[Roderich von Erckert]]. The first description of Tsakhur grammar was published by [[Adolf Dirr]] in 1913.<ref name="slsta"/>
The first written documentation of Tsakhur dates back to 1895 and is attributed to [[Roderich von Erckert]]. The first description of Tsakhur grammar was published by [[Adolf Dirr]] in 1913.<ref name="slsta" />


In the 1930s, a [[literary language|literary]] form of Tsakhur was developed. Starting from 1934, the language was taught in [[primary school]]s in [[Azerbaijan]] and [[Dagestan]]. In 1938, the use of literary Tsakhur in Azerbaijan was discontinued but regained its status in 1989.<ref name="slsta"/>
In the 1930s, a [[literary language|literary]] form of Tsakhur was developed. Starting from 1934, the language was taught in [[primary school]]s in [[Azerbaijan]] and [[Dagestan]]. In 1938, the use of literary Tsakhur in Azerbaijan was discontinued but regained its status in 1989.<ref name="slsta" />


The Tsakhur alphabet in Azerbaijan is based on the [[Latin script]], whereas in Dagestan the language uses [[Cyrillic script|Cyrillic]]. In the past (as early as the 11th century) there have been attempts to write Tsakhur in the [[Arabic script]].<ref name="tsketheo">{{in lang|ru}} [http://etheo.org/tsax01.htm The Tsakhur language] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726035221/http://etheo.org/tsax01.htm |date=2011-07-26 }}. The ''ETHEO'' Project. Last updated 11 October 2005. Retrieved 26 December 2006</ref>
The Tsakhur alphabet in Azerbaijan is based on the [[Latin script]], whereas in Dagestan the language uses [[Cyrillic script|Cyrillic]]. In the past (as early as the 11th century) there have been attempts to write Tsakhur in the [[Arabic script]].<ref name="tsketheo">{{Cite web |title=Tsakhurskiy (Tsakhskiy) yazyk [Tsaxur (Sakhur, Tsaxur, Tsakhury, Caxur, Tsakur, Chakhur)] /TKR (ISO/FDIS 639-3); CAU (ISO 639-2)/ |script-title=ru:Цахурский (Цахский) язык [Tsaxur (Sakhur, Tsaxur, Tsakhury, Caxur, Tsakur, Chakhur)] /TKR (ISO/FDIS 639-3); CAU (ISO 639-2) |trans-title=Tsakhur (Tsakh) language Tsaxur (Sakhur, Tsaxur, Tsakhury, Caxur, Tsakur, Chakhur)] /TKR (ISO/FDIS 639-3); CAU (ISO 639-2)/ |url=http://etheo.org/tsax01.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726035221/http://etheo.org/tsax01.htm |archive-date=2011-07-26 |access-date=26 December 2006 |website=etheo.org |language=ru}}</ref>


In 2008, Asif Rustamov directed the first and so far only feature film in Tsakhur called ''Facing Back to the [[Qibla]]''.<ref>[http://www.newsazerbaijan.ru/culture/20090401/42794361.html Shootings of ''Facing Back to the Qibla'' Finished] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.is/20130712070302/http://www.newsazerbaijan.ru/culture/20090401/42794361.html |date=2013-07-12 }}. News Azerbaijan. 1 April 2009.</ref>
In 2008, Asif Rustamov directed the first and so far only feature film in Tsakhur called ''Facing Back to the [[Qibla]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 April 2009 |title=Zavershilis syemki filma na tsakhurskom yazyke «Spinoy k Kible» |script-title=ru:Завершились съемки фильма на цахурском языке «Спиной к Кибле» |language=ru |trans-title=Shooting of the Tsakhur language film "Facing Back to the Qiblah" finished |work=Novosti-Azerbaydzhan |url=http://www.newsazerbaijan.ru/culture/20090401/42794361.html |archive-url=https://archive.is/20130712070302/http://www.newsazerbaijan.ru/culture/20090401/42794361.html |archive-date=2013-07-12 |script-work=ru:Новости-Азербайджан}}</ref>


==Geographic distribution==
==Geographic distribution==
Tsakhur is spoken mostly in rural areas of Azerbaijan's [[Zaqatala District|Zaqatala]] and [[Qakh District|Qakh]] rayons, as well as mountainous parts of Dagestan's Rutul region. There are 15,900 Tsakhurs in Azerbaijan (1999 census) and 10,400 in Russia (2002 census). In 1989, 93% of them reported Tsakhur as their first language.<ref name="slsta"/>
Tsakhur is spoken mostly in rural areas of Azerbaijan's [[Zaqatala District|Zaqatala]] and [[Qakh District|Qakh]] rayons, as well as mountainous parts of Dagestan's Rutul region. There are 15,900 Tsakhurs in Azerbaijan (1999 census) and 10,400 in Russia (2002 census). In 1989, 93% of them reported Tsakhur as their first language.<ref name="slsta" />


===Official status===
===Official status===
In Azerbaijan and Russia, Tsakhur is taught as a subject in primary schools (grades 1 to 4) in Tsakhur-populated regions. Newspapers and radio broadcast in Tsakhur are also available. It is one of twelve official languages of the Dagestan region in Russia where it is spoken. However, the language does not have an official status in Azerbaijan.<ref name="slsta"/>
In Azerbaijan and Russia, Tsakhur is taught as a subject in primary schools (grades 1 to 4) in Tsakhur-populated regions. Newspapers and radio broadcast in Tsakhur are also available. It is one of twelve official languages of the Dagestan region in Russia where it is spoken. However, the language does not have an official status in Azerbaijan.<ref name="slsta" />


===Related languages===
===Related languages===
Line 51: Line 51:


===Consonants===
===Consonants===
The consonant inventory, according to Shulze's study of the language, of Tsakhur is shown below. Forms are phonemic unless placed in square brackets, in which case they are suspected to be phonemes but currently with incomplete evidence for this.<ref name="WS1997">Wolfgang Schulze, ''Tsakhur'' (Lincom Europa, München, 1997) {{ISBN|3-89586-150-2}}</ref> The inventory shows some asymmetries, but exhibits series of [[Palatalization (phonetics)|palatalized]], [[labialization|labialized]], and [[pharyngealization|pharyngealized]] phonemes.
The consonant inventory, according to Shulze's study of the language, of Tsakhur is shown below. Forms are phonemic unless placed in square brackets, in which case they are suspected to be phonemes but currently with incomplete evidence for this.<ref name="WS1997">{{Cite book |last=Schulze |first=Wolfgang |title=Tsakhur |date=1997 |publisher=LINCOM Europa |isbn=3-89586-150-2 |location=München}}</ref> The inventory shows some asymmetries, but exhibits series of [[Palatalization (phonetics)|palatalized]], [[labialization|labialized]], and [[pharyngealization|pharyngealized]] phonemes.


{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
Line 300: Line 300:


==Grammar==
==Grammar==
Tsakhur has 18 [[grammatical case]]s and has retained ''[[suffixaufnahme]]''. Verbs may have singular and plural forms, and 7 [[grammatical mood]]s. The tense system is complex. In contrast to the related languages, Tsakhur sentences can be formed by [[affective construction]].<ref name="tsketheo"/>
Tsakhur has 18 [[grammatical case]]s and has retained ''[[suffixaufnahme]]''. Verbs may have singular and plural forms, and 7 [[grammatical mood]]s. The tense system is complex. In contrast to the related languages, Tsakhur sentences can be formed by [[affective construction]].<ref name="tsketheo" />


===Noun case===
===Noun case===
Tsakhur exhibits a number of noun cases, including grammatical and local cases. The [[ergative case|ergative]] and [[genitive case]]s show agreement with the head noun class, as shown below.<ref name="WS1997"/>
Tsakhur exhibits a number of noun cases, including grammatical and local cases. The [[ergative case|ergative]] and [[genitive case]]s show agreement with the head noun class, as shown below.<ref name="WS1997" />
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Case !! Marker
! Case !! Marker
Line 337: Line 337:


==Dialects==
==Dialects==
The two major dialects of the Tsakhur language are Tsakh and Gelmets.<ref name="slsta"/>
The two major dialects of the Tsakhur language are Tsakh and Gelmets.<ref name="slsta" />


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 16:32, 11 December 2021

Tsakhur
цӀаӀхна миз, ts'əxna miz
Pronunciation/t͡sʼaˤχna miz/
Native toAzerbaijan, North Caucasus
EthnicityTsakhurs
Native speakers
22,300 (2010-2011)[1]
Latin in Azerbaijan, Cyrillic in Russia
Official status
Official language in
 Dagestan
Language codes
ISO 639-3tkr
Glottologtsak1249
ELPTsakhur
This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.

Tsakhur (Template:Lang-az; Template:Lang-ru) is a language spoken by the Tsakhurs in northern Azerbaijan and southwestern Dagestan (Russia). It is spoken by about 11,700 people in Azerbaijan and by about 10,600 people in Russia.[1] The word Tsakhur derives from the name of a Dagestani village where speakers of this language make up the majority.

Although Tsakhur is endangered in communities in closest contact with Azerbaijani, it is vigorous in other communities, gaining prominence in the region, seen in the growth of interest in learning Tsakhur in school and a growing body of Tsakhur-learning materials.[2] Tsakhur is classified as "definitely endangered" by UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger.[3]

Classification

Tsakhur belongs to the Lezgic group of the Northeast Caucasian language family. The Tsakhurs call their language C'a'χna miz.

History

The first written documentation of Tsakhur dates back to 1895 and is attributed to Roderich von Erckert. The first description of Tsakhur grammar was published by Adolf Dirr in 1913.[2]

In the 1930s, a literary form of Tsakhur was developed. Starting from 1934, the language was taught in primary schools in Azerbaijan and Dagestan. In 1938, the use of literary Tsakhur in Azerbaijan was discontinued but regained its status in 1989.[2]

The Tsakhur alphabet in Azerbaijan is based on the Latin script, whereas in Dagestan the language uses Cyrillic. In the past (as early as the 11th century) there have been attempts to write Tsakhur in the Arabic script.[4]

In 2008, Asif Rustamov directed the first and so far only feature film in Tsakhur called Facing Back to the Qibla.[5]

Geographic distribution

Tsakhur is spoken mostly in rural areas of Azerbaijan's Zaqatala and Qakh rayons, as well as mountainous parts of Dagestan's Rutul region. There are 15,900 Tsakhurs in Azerbaijan (1999 census) and 10,400 in Russia (2002 census). In 1989, 93% of them reported Tsakhur as their first language.[2]

Official status

In Azerbaijan and Russia, Tsakhur is taught as a subject in primary schools (grades 1 to 4) in Tsakhur-populated regions. Newspapers and radio broadcast in Tsakhur are also available. It is one of twelve official languages of the Dagestan region in Russia where it is spoken. However, the language does not have an official status in Azerbaijan.[2]

Among the languages of the Lezgic group, Rutul appears to be the closest one to Tsakhur. Other than these two, there are eight more languages in the Lezgic group, namely: Lezgian, Tabasaran, Aghul, Budukh, Kryts, Khinalugh, Udi, and Archi.

Phonology

Similar to many Northeast Caucasian languages, Tsakhur is known for its complex phonology and a large number of vowel phonemes (including 7 simple, 5 pharyngealized and 3 umlauted vowels[clarification needed]). Its first in-depth phonological description was provided by Nikolai Trubetzkoy in 1931.

Consonants

The consonant inventory, according to Shulze's study of the language, of Tsakhur is shown below. Forms are phonemic unless placed in square brackets, in which case they are suspected to be phonemes but currently with incomplete evidence for this.[6] The inventory shows some asymmetries, but exhibits series of palatalized, labialized, and pharyngealized phonemes.

Labial Dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Uvular Laryngeal
plain pal. lab. plain pal. lab. plain lab. plain pal. lab. plain lab. phar. plain lab. phar.
Nasal m n [nʲ]
Plosive /
Affricate 		voiceless p t [tʲ] tʷ ts [tsʲ] [tsʷ] tʃ tʃʷ k kʲ [kʷ] q qʷ qˤ
ejective pʼ tʼ [tʲʼ] [tʷʼ] tsʼ [tsʲʼ] [tsʷʼ] tʃʼ tʃʼʷ kʼ [kʲʼ] [kʷʼ] qʼ qʷʼ qˤʼ ʔ ʕʼ
geminate pː tː tsː [tʃːʼ] [tʃːʷ] kː [kːʲ] qː [qːʷ] [qːˤ]
voiced b d dʲ dz dʒ [dʒʷ] g gʲ gʷ ɢ [ɢʷ] ɢˤ
Fricative voiceless f s [sʲ] ʃ [ʃʷ] x xʲ xʷ χ χʷ χˤ h [hʷ] hˤ
geminate sː [sːʲ] ʃː [ʃːʷ] xː [xːʲ] [xːʷ] χː [χːʷ] [χːˤ]
voiced β ~ w1 z [zʲ] [zʷ] ɣ ʁ [ʁʷ] ʁˤ
Approximant/Trill l lʲ r j
1 [clarification needed]

Vowels

Plain vowels
Front Central Back
Close i ~ iː u
Mid e ~ eː ə o
Open a ~ aː
Pharyngealized vowels
Front Central Back
Close iˤ uˤ
Mid eˤ əˤ oˤ ~ oːˤ
Open aˤ ~ aːˤ

Grammar

Tsakhur has 18 grammatical cases and has retained suffixaufnahme. Verbs may have singular and plural forms, and 7 grammatical moods. The tense system is complex. In contrast to the related languages, Tsakhur sentences can be formed by affective construction.[4]

Noun case

Tsakhur exhibits a number of noun cases, including grammatical and local cases. The ergative and genitive cases show agreement with the head noun class, as shown below.[6]

Case Marker
Absolutive -∅
Ergative -e(ː)1 / -(V)n2
Genitive -(V)na3, -(V)n4, -(V)ni5
Dative -(V)s
  1. Human nouns
  2. Nonhuman nouns
  3. Head noun ABS, classes I-III
  4. Head noun ABS, classes IV
  5. Head noun OBL
Example inflections
Case Sg. Pl. Sg. Pl.
Absolutive balkan balkanar zer zerbə
Ergative balkanan balkanāšše zeran zerbən
Genitive balkanana balkanāššina zerana zerbəna
Dative balkanus balkanāššis zerus zerbəs
horse cow

Dialects

The two major dialects of the Tsakhur language are Tsakh and Gelmets.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Tsakhur". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 2019-07-29. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Clifton, John M.; Tiessen, Calvin; Deckinga, Gabriela; Lucht, Laura (2005). The Sociolinguistic Situation of the Tsakhur in Azerbaijan (PDF). SIL International. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-14.
  3. ^ "UNESCO Interactive Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger". United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Archived from the original on 2009-02-22. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  4. ^ a b "Tsakhurskiy (Tsakhskiy) yazyk [Tsaxur (Sakhur, Tsaxur, Tsakhury, Caxur, Tsakur, Chakhur)] /TKR (ISO/FDIS 639-3); CAU (ISO 639-2)/" Цахурский (Цахский) язык [Tsaxur (Sakhur, Tsaxur, Tsakhury, Caxur, Tsakur, Chakhur)] /TKR (ISO/FDIS 639-3); CAU (ISO 639-2) [Tsakhur (Tsakh) language Tsaxur (Sakhur, Tsaxur, Tsakhury, Caxur, Tsakur, Chakhur)] /TKR (ISO/FDIS 639-3); CAU (ISO 639-2)/]. etheo.org (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 26 December 2006.
  5. ^ "Zavershilis syemki filma na tsakhurskom yazyke «Spinoy k Kible»" Завершились съемки фильма на цахурском языке «Спиной к Кибле» [Shooting of the Tsakhur language film "Facing Back to the Qiblah" finished]. Novosti-Azerbaydzhan Новости-Азербайджан (in Russian). 1 April 2009. Archived from the original on 2013-07-12.
  6. ^ a b Schulze, Wolfgang (1997). Tsakhur. München: LINCOM Europa. ISBN 3-89586-150-2.
Tsakhur language test of Wikipedia at Wikimedia Incubator
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