Bagvalal language
Encyclopedia
The Bagvalal language is an Avar–Andic language spoken by the Bagvalals in southwestern Dagestan
, Russia
, along the right bank of the river Andi-Koisu and the surrounding hills, near the Georgia
n border. It is fairly similar to Tindi
, its closest relative. There were about 6,500 people who speak Bagvalal in the survey by Koryakov in 2006.
The tradition and culture of the Bagvalal people is very similar to that of the Avar people
, due to their common history within the Avar Khanate
.
Bagvalal has three dialects which are named after the names of the villages in which they are spoken in. Only the Tlisi dialect has been studied to a certain significance, because of its similarities to the Tindi language
.
Bagvalal has numerous loanwords from such languages as Arabic, Russian
, Turkish
, and Avar
. It is only used as an oral language; Avar or Russian are used as written languages. Nowadays Bagvalal is only used in family settings, using Avar or Russian for every other area of communication.
Unfortunately, Bagvalal has been suffering severe problems. It has been in serious danger of extinction. The schooling and cultural revolution have contributed to Bagvalal's serious decline. Bagvalal pupils are taught in Avar in primary school, and in secondary school they are taught in Russian. Between 1950 and 1970, Bagvalals migrated to different districts in the Astrakhan
province of Russia, and this also affected the Bagvalal language.
Despite this, most of the Bagvalal are supportive towards the language, and around 30~50% of children are fluent in the language.
Bagvalal was first mentioned in the 19th century, but very few recordings of the language have been made. There has been very little linguistic research done on the language.
Dagestan
The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and the largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, along the right bank of the river Andi-Koisu and the surrounding hills, near the Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
n border. It is fairly similar to Tindi
Tindi language
Tindi is an Northeast Caucasian language spoken in the Russian republic of Dagestan. It is only an oral language; Avar or Russian are used in written communication instead. It has approximately 5000 speakers.-External links:*...
, its closest relative. There were about 6,500 people who speak Bagvalal in the survey by Koryakov in 2006.
The tradition and culture of the Bagvalal people is very similar to that of the Avar people
Caucasian Avars
Avars or Caucasian Avars are a modern people of Caucasus, mainly of Dagestan, in which they are the predominant group. The Caucasian Avar language belongs to the Northeast Caucasian language family ....
, due to their common history within the Avar Khanate
Avar Khanate
The Avar Khanate was a long-lived Muslim state which controlled Western Dagestan from the early 13th century to the 19th century.Following the downfall of the Christian kingdom of Sarir in the early 12th century, the Caucasian Avars underwent a process of Islamization. Military tensions escalated...
.
Bagvalal has three dialects which are named after the names of the villages in which they are spoken in. Only the Tlisi dialect has been studied to a certain significance, because of its similarities to the Tindi language
Tindi language
Tindi is an Northeast Caucasian language spoken in the Russian republic of Dagestan. It is only an oral language; Avar or Russian are used in written communication instead. It has approximately 5000 speakers.-External links:*...
.
Bagvalal has numerous loanwords from such languages as Arabic, Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
, Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
, and Avar
Avar language
The modern Avar language belongs to the Avar–Andic group of the Northeast Caucasian language family....
. It is only used as an oral language; Avar or Russian are used as written languages. Nowadays Bagvalal is only used in family settings, using Avar or Russian for every other area of communication.
Unfortunately, Bagvalal has been suffering severe problems. It has been in serious danger of extinction. The schooling and cultural revolution have contributed to Bagvalal's serious decline. Bagvalal pupils are taught in Avar in primary school, and in secondary school they are taught in Russian. Between 1950 and 1970, Bagvalals migrated to different districts in the Astrakhan
Astrakhan
Astrakhan is a major city in southern European Russia and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast. The city lies on the left bank of the Volga River, close to where it discharges into the Caspian Sea at an altitude of below the sea level. Population:...
province of Russia, and this also affected the Bagvalal language.
Despite this, most of the Bagvalal are supportive towards the language, and around 30~50% of children are fluent in the language.
Bagvalal was first mentioned in the 19th century, but very few recordings of the language have been made. There has been very little linguistic research done on the language.