Circassian language
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This article does not cite any references or sources. (April 2013) |
| Circassian | |
|---|---|
| Cherkess | |
| Ethnicity: | Circassians |
| Geographic distribution: |
Caucasus |
| Linguistic classification: | Northwest Caucasian |
| Proto-language: | Proto-Circassian |
| Subdivisions: | |
 Circassian
|
|
Circassian /sərˈkæsiən/, also known as Cherkess /tʃərˈkɛs/, is a dialect continuum of the Caucasus. There are two Circassian languages as defined by their literary standards, Adyghe (Adyge, West Circassian) (КӀахыбзэ), with half a million speakers, and Kabardian (East Circassian) (Къэбэрдейбзэ) with a million. The spoken languages, however, merge, with geographically intermediate dialects intelligible to both standards.
The terms "Circassian" and "Cherkess" are sometimes also used as synonyms for the Northwest Caucasian languages in general.
