Languages of the Caucasus: Encyclopedia II - Languages of the Caucasus - Proposed higher-level classifications

Languages of the Caucasus - Proposed higher-level classifications

A topic that has attracted much research since the 19th century is the classification of the four major Caucasian families into larger groups. Unfortunately this field is quite sensitive, given the complex ethnic and political situation of the region, both before and after the extinction of the Soviet Union. As in many other regions of the globe, linguistic arguments are often used to back up or dismiss territorial disputes and separatist movements. Given the general paucity of linguistic and historical evidence for inter-family relationships, those political implications often dominate the debate.

Languages of the Caucasus - North Caucasian languages

Some linguists see the Northwest (Abkhaz-Adyghe) and Northeast (Nahk-Dagestanian) families as related, and have proposed to join them into a single North Caucasian family — which is sometimes called Caucasic or simply Caucasian, even though it is not meant to contain the South Caucasian (Kartvelian) languages. However, this proposal is not yet widely accepted. See the article on North Caucasian languages for details.

Languages of the Caucasus - Ibero-Caucasian languages

There are no known affinities between the South Caucasian and North Caucasian families. Nevertheless, some scholars have proposed the single name Ibero-Caucasian for all the Caucasian language families, North and South. (The Ibero in the name refers to the ancient kingdom of Caucasian Iberia in Eastern Georgia and is not related to the Iberian Peninsula.) See the article on Ibero-Caucasian languages for details.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Proposed higher-level classifications", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki