Proto-Circassian | |
---|---|
Proto-Adyghe–Kabardian | |
Reconstruction of | Circassian languages |
Reconstructed ancestor |
Proto-Circassian (or Proto-Adyghe–Kabardian) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Adyghean and Kabardian languages.
A Circassian dialects family tree. |
The consonant system is reconstructed with a four-way phonation contrast in stops and affricates, and a two-way contrast in fricatives.
Proto Circassian |
Western Circassian | Eastern Circassian | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Proto Western |
Shapsug | Bzhedug | Chemgui | Abzakh | Proto Eastern |
Besleney | Kabardian | |
* b ⟨б⟩ | * b ⟨б⟩ | b ⟨б⟩ | * b ⟨б⟩ | b ⟨б⟩ | ||||
* p ⟨п⟩ | * p ⟨п⟩ | p ⟨п⟩ | * b ⟨б⟩ | b ⟨б⟩ | ||||
* pʰ ⟨пʰ⟩ | * pʰ ⟨пʰ⟩ | pʰ ⟨пʰ⟩ | p ⟨п⟩ | * p ⟨п⟩ | p ⟨п⟩ | |||
* pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | * pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | * pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | ||||
* d ⟨д⟩ | * d ⟨д⟩ | d ⟨д⟩ | * d ⟨д⟩ | d ⟨д⟩ | ||||
* t ⟨т⟩ | * t ⟨т⟩ | t ⟨т⟩ | * d ⟨д⟩ | d ⟨д⟩ | ||||
* tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩ | * tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩ | tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩ | t ⟨т⟩ | * t ⟨т⟩ | t ⟨т⟩ | |||
* tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | * tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | * tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | ||||
* ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | * ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | * ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ||
* kʲ ⟨кь⟩ | * kʲ ⟨кь⟩ | kʲ ⟨кь⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | * ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ||
* kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩ | * kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩ | kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩ | t͡ʃʰ ⟨чʰ⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | * kʲ ⟨кь⟩ | kʲ ⟨кь⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | |
* kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ | * kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ | kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | * kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ | kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | ||
* ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | * ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | * ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ||||
* kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | * kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | * ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ||||
* kʷʰ ⟨кʰу⟩ | * kʷʰ ⟨кʰу⟩ | kʷʰ ⟨кʰу⟩ | kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | * kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | |||
* kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩ | * kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩ | kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩ | * kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩ | kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩ | ||||
* q ⟨къ⟩ | * q ⟨къ⟩ | q ⟨къ⟩ | * q ⟨къ⟩ | q ⟨къ⟩ | ||||
* qʰ ⟨кʰъ⟩ | * qʰ ⟨кʰъ⟩ | qʰ ⟨кʰъ⟩ | q ⟨къ⟩ | * q͡χ ⟨кхъ⟩ | q͡χ ⟨кхъ⟩ | |||
* qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | * qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | * qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | ||||
* qʷʰ ⟨кʰъу⟩ | * qʷʰ ⟨кʰъу⟩ | qʷʰ ⟨кʰъу⟩ | qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | * q͡χʷ ⟨кхъу⟩ | q͡χʷ ⟨кхъу⟩ | |||
* d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | * d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | * d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | ||||
* t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | * t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | * d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | ||||
* t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩ | * t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩ | t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩ | t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | * t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | |||
* t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ | * t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ | t͡sʼ / sʼ ⟨цӏ / сӏ⟩ | t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ | * t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ | t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ | |||
* d͡ʑʷ ⟨джъу⟩ | * d͡ʑʷ ⟨джъу⟩ | ʑʷ ⟨жьу⟩ | ʒʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | d͡zʷ ⟨дзу⟩ | ʒʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | * v ⟨в⟩ | v ⟨в⟩ | |
* t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | * t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | t͡sʷ ⟨цу⟩ | t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | * v ⟨в⟩ | v ⟨в⟩ | ||
* t͡ɕʰʷ ⟨чъʰу⟩ | * t͡ɕʰʷ ⟨чъʰу⟩ | t͡ɕʰʷ ⟨чъʰу⟩ | t͡sʷ ⟨цу⟩ | t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | * f ⟨ф⟩ | f ⟨ф⟩ | ||
* d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | * d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | * d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ||
* t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | * t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ||
* t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | * t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | * d͡ʐ ⟨джъ⟩ | d͡ʐ ⟨джъ⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | |
* t͡ʃʰ ⟨чʰ⟩ | * ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ||
* t͡ʂʰ ⟨чʰъ⟩ | * ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ||
* t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | * t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | ɕʼ / ʔʲ ⟨щӏ / ӏ⟩ | * t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | ||
* t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ | * t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ | ɕʼ / ʔʲ ⟨щӏ / ӏ⟩ | * t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ | t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ | ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | |
* z ⟨з⟩ | * z ⟨з⟩ | z ⟨з⟩ | * z ⟨з⟩ | z ⟨з⟩ | ||||
* s ⟨с⟩ | * s ⟨с⟩ | s ⟨с⟩ | * s ⟨с⟩ | s ⟨с⟩ | ||||
* ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | * ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | * ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | |||
* ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | * ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | * ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | |||
* ɕʼ ⟨шӏ⟩ | * ʃʼ ⟨шӏ⟩ | ʃʼ ⟨шӏ⟩ | * ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | ||||
* ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | * ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | ʑʷ ⟨жьу⟩ | ʒʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | * v ⟨в⟩ | v ⟨в⟩ | |||
* ɕʷ ⟨шъу⟩ | * ɕʷ ⟨шъу⟩ | ɕʷ ⟨щу⟩ | ʃʷ ⟨шъу⟩ | * f ⟨ф⟩ | f ⟨ф⟩ | |||
* ɕʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩ | * ʃʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩ | ʃʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩ | * fʼ ⟨фӏ⟩ | fʼ ⟨фӏ⟩ | ||||
* ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | * ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | * ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | |||
* ʐ ⟨жъ⟩ | * ʐ ⟨жъ⟩ | ʐ ⟨жъ⟩ | * ʐ ⟨жъ⟩ | ʐ ⟨жъ⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | |||
* ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | |||
* ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | * ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | * ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | |||
* ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | * ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ||
* ʂʰ ⟨шʰъ⟩ | * ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ||
* ɮ ⟨л⟩ | * ɮ ⟨л⟩ | ɮ ⟨л⟩ | * ɮ ⟨л⟩ | ɮ ⟨л⟩ | ||||
* ɬ ⟨лъ⟩ | * ɬ ⟨лъ⟩ | ɬ ⟨лъ⟩ | * ɬ ⟨лъ⟩ | ɬ ⟨лъ⟩ | ||||
* ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩ | * ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩ | ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩ | * ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩ | t͡ɬʼ ⟨тлӏ⟩ | ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩ | |||
* ɣ ⟨г⟩ | * ɣ ⟨г⟩ | ɣ ⟨г⟩ | * ɣ ⟨г⟩ | ɣ ⟨г⟩ | ||||
* x ⟨х⟩ | * x ⟨х⟩ | x ⟨х⟩ | * x ⟨х⟩ | x ⟨х⟩ | ||||
* xʷ ⟨ху⟩ | * f ⟨ф⟩ | f ⟨ф⟩ | * xʷ ⟨ху⟩ | xʷ ⟨ху⟩ | ||||
* ʁ ⟨гъ⟩ | * ʁ ⟨гъ⟩ | ʁ ⟨гъ⟩ | * ʁ ⟨гъ⟩ | ʁ ⟨гъ⟩ | ||||
* ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩ | * ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩ | ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩ | * ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩ | ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩ | ||||
* χ ⟨хъ⟩ | * χ ⟨хъ⟩ | χ ⟨хъ⟩ | * χ ⟨хъ⟩ | χ ⟨хъ⟩ | ||||
* χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | * χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | * χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | ||||
* ħ ⟨хь⟩ | * ħ ⟨хь⟩ | ħ ⟨хь⟩ | * ħ ⟨хь⟩ | ħ ⟨хь⟩ | ||||
* m ⟨м⟩ | * m ⟨м⟩ | m ⟨м⟩ | * m ⟨м⟩ | m ⟨м⟩ | ||||
* n ⟨н⟩ | * n ⟨н⟩ | n ⟨н⟩ | * n ⟨н⟩ | n ⟨н⟩ | ||||
* r ⟨р⟩ | * r ⟨р⟩ | r ⟨р⟩ | * r ⟨р⟩ | r ⟨р⟩ | ||||
* w ⟨у⟩ | * w ⟨у⟩ | w ⟨у⟩ | * w ⟨у⟩ | w ⟨у⟩ | ||||
* j ⟨й⟩ | * j ⟨й⟩ | j ⟨й⟩ | * j ⟨й⟩ | j ⟨й⟩ | ||||
* ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩ | * ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩ | ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩ | * ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩ | ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩ | ||||
* ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩ | * ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩ | ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩ | * ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩ | ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩ |
In the Proto-Circassian there was a series of aspirated consonants that survived in the Shapsug and Bzhedugh dialect while they became plain consonants in the other dialects.
Word | Proto Circassian |
Shapsug Bzhedug |
Abzakh Chemgui |
Kabardian |
---|---|---|---|---|
noise | pʰa ⟨пʰэ⟩ | pʰa ⟨пʰэ⟩ | pa ⟨пэ⟩ | pa ⟨пэ⟩ |
sharp | pʰaːɣa ⟨пʰагэ⟩ | pʰaːɣa ⟨пʰагэ⟩ | paːɣa ⟨пагэ⟩ | paːɣa ⟨пагэ⟩ |
pillow | ʂħaːntʰa ⟨шъхьантʰэ⟩ | ʂħaːtʰa ⟨шъхьатʰэ⟩ | ʂħaːnta ⟨шъхьантэ⟩ | ɕħaːnta ⟨щхьантэ⟩ |
wool | t͡sʰə ⟨цʰы⟩ | t͡sʰə ⟨цʰы⟩ | t͡sə ⟨цы⟩ | t͡sə ⟨цы⟩ |
brother | t͡ʃʰə ⟨чʰы⟩ | ʃʰə ⟨шʰы⟩ | ʃə ⟨шы⟩ | qʷaʃ ⟨къуэш⟩ |
lame | ɬaːʃʰa ⟨лъашʰэ⟩ | ɬaːʃʰa ⟨лъашʰэ⟩ | ɬaːʃa ⟨лъашэ⟩ | ɬaːʃa ⟨лъашэ⟩ |
thigh | kʰʷa ⟨кʰо⟩ | kʰʷa ⟨кʰо⟩ | kʷa ⟨ко⟩ | kʷa ⟨куэ⟩ |
grave | qʰa ⟨кʰъэ⟩ | qʰa ⟨кʰъэ⟩ | qa ⟨къэ⟩ | q͡χa ⟨кхъэ⟩ |
pig | qʷʰa ⟨кʰъо⟩ | qʷʰa ⟨кʰъо⟩ | qʷa ⟨къо⟩ | q͡χʷa ⟨кхъуэ⟩ |
In the Proto-Circassian there was a series of tense consonants that became voiced in the eastern dialects.
Word | Proto Circassian |
Bzhedug Chemgui |
Baslaney | Kabardian |
---|---|---|---|---|
we | ta ⟨тэ⟩ | ta ⟨тэ⟩ | da ⟨дэ⟩ | da ⟨дэ⟩ |
leader | tħamaːta ⟨тхьэматэ⟩ | tħamaːta ⟨тхьэматэ⟩ | tħamaːda ⟨тхьэмадэ⟩ | tħamaːda ⟨тхьэмадэ⟩ |
fish | pt͡saʐəja ⟨пцэжъые⟩ | pt͡saʐəja ⟨пцэжъые⟩ | bd͡zaʐej ⟨бдзэжъей⟩ | bd͡zaʑej ⟨бдзэжьей⟩ |
glass | aːpkʲ ⟨апкь⟩ | aːpt͡ʃ ⟨апч⟩ | ʔaːbɡʲ ⟨абгь⟩ | ʔaːbd͡ʒ ⟨абдж⟩ |
chicken | kʲat ⟨кьэт⟩ | t͡ʃatə ⟨чэты⟩ | ɡʲad ⟨гьэд⟩ | d͡ʒad ⟨джэд⟩ |
night | t͡ʃaɕ ⟨чэщ⟩ | t͡ʃaɕə ⟨чэщы⟩ | d͡ʒaɕ ⟨джэщ⟩ | ʒaɕ ⟨жэщ⟩ |
village | t͡ʃəɮa ⟨чылэ⟩ | t͡ʃəɮa ⟨чылэ⟩ | d͡ʒəɮa ⟨джылэ⟩ | ʒəɮa ⟨жылэ⟩ |
cow | t͡ʃam ⟨чэм⟩ | t͡ʃamə ⟨чэмы⟩ | d͡ʒam ⟨джэм⟩ | ʒam ⟨жэм⟩ |
tree | t͡ʂəɣ ⟨чъыг⟩ | t͡ʂəɣə ⟨чъыгы⟩ | d͡ʐəɣ ⟨джъыг⟩ | ʒəɣ ⟨жыг⟩ |
mouse | t͡səʁʷa ⟨цыгъо⟩ | t͡səʁʷa ⟨цыгъо⟩ | d͡zəʁʷa ⟨дзыгъуэ⟩ | d͡zəʁʷa ⟨дзыгъуэ⟩ |
short | kʲʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏьако⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏако⟩ | kʲʼaːɡʷa ⟨кӏьагуэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːɡʷa ⟨кӏагуэ⟩ |
wheat | kʷat͡s ⟨коц⟩ | kʷat͡sə ⟨коцы⟩ | ɡʷad͡z ⟨гуэдз⟩ | ɡʷad͡z ⟨гуэдз⟩ |
In the Proto-Circassian language there exist a palatalized voiced velar stop [ɡʲ] ⟨гь⟩, a palatalized aspirated voiceless velar stop [kʰʲ], a palatalized voiceless velar stop [kʲ] ⟨кь⟩ and a palatalized velar ejective [kʲʼ] ⟨кӏь⟩. The consonants гь [ ɡʲ], кь [ kʲ] and кӏь [ kʲʼ] survive in the Shapsug dialect, in the Besleney dialect and in the Kabardian Uzunyayla dialect. [1] In other Circassian dialects they were merged with the palato-alveolar consonants дж [ d͡ʒ], ч [ t͡ʃ] and кӏ [ t͡ʃʼ] respectively. [2] [3] [4]
Word | Proto Circassian |
Shapsug | Bzhedug Chemgui Abzakh |
Baslaney | Kabardian |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
to cough | pskʲʰan ⟨пскʰьэн⟩ | pskʲʰan ⟨пскʰьэн⟩ | pst͡ʃan ⟨псчэн⟩ | pskʲan ⟨пскьэн⟩ | pst͡ʃan ⟨псчэн⟩ |
game | ɡʲaɡʷ ⟨гьэгу⟩ | ɡʲaɡʷ ⟨гьэгу⟩ | d͡ʒaɡʷ ⟨джэгу⟩ | ɡʲaɡʷ ⟨гьэгу⟩ | d͡ʒaɡʷ ⟨джэгу⟩ |
shirt | ɡʲaːna ⟨гьанэ⟩ | ɡʲaːna ⟨гьанэ⟩ | d͡ʒːna ⟨джанэ⟩ | ɡʲaːna ⟨гьанэ⟩ | d͡ʒːna ⟨джанэ⟩ |
glass | aːpkʲ ⟨апкь⟩ | aːpkʲ ⟨апкь⟩ | aːpt͡ʃ ⟨апч⟩ | ʔaːbɡʲ ⟨абгь⟩ | ʔaːbd͡ʒ ⟨абдж⟩ |
chicken | kʲat ⟨кьэт⟩ | kʲat ⟨кьэт⟩ | t͡ʃatə ⟨чэты⟩ | ɡʲad ⟨гьэд⟩ | d͡ʒad ⟨джэд⟩ |
short | kʲʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏьако⟩ | kʲʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏьако⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏако⟩ | kʲʼaːɡʷa ⟨кӏьагуэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːɡʷa ⟨кӏагуэ⟩ |
rope | kʲʼaːpsa ⟨кӏьапсэ⟩ | kʲʼaːpsa ⟨кӏьапсэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːpsa ⟨кӏапсэ⟩ | kʲʼaːpsa ⟨кӏьапсэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːpsa ⟨кӏапсэ⟩ |
In the Abzakh and the Kabardian dialects, the affricate postalveolar consonants became fricative.
Word | Proto Circassian |
Bzhedug Chemgui |
Abzakh | Baslaney | Kabardian |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
fox | baːd͡ʒa ⟨баджэ⟩ | baːd͡ʒa ⟨баджэ⟩ | baːʒa ⟨бажэ⟩ | baːd͡ʒa ⟨баджэ⟩ | baːʒa ⟨бажэ⟩ |
village | qʷaːd͡ʒa ⟨къуаджэ⟩ | qʷaːd͡ʒa ⟨къуаджэ⟩ | qʷaːʒa ⟨къуажэ⟩ | qʷaːd͡ʒa ⟨къуаджэ⟩ | qʷaːʒa ⟨къуажэ⟩ |
village | t͡ʃəɮa ⟨чылэ⟩ | t͡ʃəɮa ⟨чылэ⟩ | ʃəɮa ⟨шылэ⟩ | d͡ʒəɮa ⟨джылэ⟩ | ʒəɮa ⟨жылэ⟩ |
night | t͡ʃaɕ ⟨чэщ⟩ | t͡ʃaɕə ⟨чэщы⟩ | ʃaɕə ⟨шэщы⟩ | d͡ʒaɕ ⟨джэщ⟩ | ʒaɕ ⟨жэщ⟩ |
cow | t͡ʃam ⟨чэм⟩ | t͡ʃamə ⟨чэмы⟩ | ʃamə ⟨шэмы⟩ | d͡ʒam ⟨джэм⟩ | ʒam ⟨жэм⟩ |
new | t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩ | ʃʼa ⟨шӏэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩ | ɕʼa ⟨щӏэ⟩ |
winter | t͡ʃʼəmaːxʷa ⟨кӏымахо⟩ | t͡ʃʼəmaːfa ⟨кӏымафэ⟩ | ʃʼəmaːfa ⟨шӏымафэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼəmaːxʷa ⟨кӏымахуэ⟩ | ɕʼəmaːxʷa ⟨щӏымахуэ⟩ |
young-man | t͡ʃʼaːɮa ⟨кӏалэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːɮa ⟨кӏалэ⟩ | ʔʲaːɮa ⟨ӏелэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːɮa ⟨кӏалэ⟩ | ɕʼaːɮa ⟨щӏалэ⟩ |
to sleep | t͡ʂəjan ⟨чъыен⟩ | t͡ʂəjan ⟨чъыен⟩ | ʂəjan ⟨шъыен⟩ | d͡ʐajən ⟨джъеин⟩ | ʒajən ⟨жеин⟩ |
tree | t͡ʂəɣ ⟨чъыг⟩ | t͡ʂəɣə ⟨чъыгы⟩ | ʂəɣə ⟨шъыгы⟩ | d͡ʐəɣ ⟨джъыг⟩ | ʒəɣ ⟨жыг⟩ |
to run | t͡ʂan ⟨чъэн⟩ | t͡ʂan ⟨чъэн⟩ | tʂan ⟨шъэн⟩ | d͡ʐan ⟨джъэн⟩ | ʒan ⟨жэн⟩ |
area | t͡ʂʼəpʼa ⟨чӏыпӏэ⟩ | t͡ʂʼəpʼa ⟨чӏыпӏэ⟩ | ʃʼəpʼa ⟨шӏыпӏэ⟩ | t͡ʂʼəpʼa ⟨чӏыпӏэ⟩ | ɕʼəpʼa ⟨щӏыпӏэ⟩ |
iron | ʁʷət͡ʂʼə ⟨гъучӏы⟩ | ʁʷət͡ʂʼə ⟨гъучӏы⟩ | ʃʼəpʼa ⟨гъушӏы⟩ | ʁʷət͡ʂʼə ⟨гъучӏы⟩ | ɕʼəpʼa ⟨гъущӏы⟩ |
Proto-Circassian had a labialized voiceless velar fricative [xʷ] which survived in the eastern dialects while it became a voiceless labiodental fricative [f] in the western dialects.
Word | Proto Circassian |
Western | Eastern |
---|---|---|---|
human | t͡sʼəxʷ ⟨цӏыху⟩ | t͡sʼəf ⟨цӏыф⟩ | t͡sʼəxʷ ⟨цӏыху⟩ |
white | xʷəʑ ⟨хужь⟩ | fəʑə ⟨фыжьы⟩ | xʷəʑ ⟨хужь⟩ |
hot | xʷaːba ⟨хуабэ⟩ | faːba ⟨фабэ⟩ | xʷaːba ⟨хуабэ⟩ |
day | maːxʷa ⟨махо⟩ | maːfa ⟨мафэ⟩ | maːxʷa ⟨махуэ⟩ |
Proto-Circassian had a series of labialized postalveolar consonants (t͡ɕʷ, ʑʷ, ɕʷ and ɕʷʼ). These consonants survived in the western dialects while they became labiodental consonants in the eastern dialects.
Word | Proto Circassian |
Western | Eastern |
---|---|---|---|
ox | t͡ɕʷə ⟨цу⟩ | t͡ɕʷə ⟨цу⟩ | və ⟨вы⟩ |
shoe | t͡ɕʷaːqa ⟨цуакъэ⟩ | t͡ɕʷaːqa ⟨цуакъэ⟩ | vaːqa ⟨вакъэ⟩ |
star | ʑʷaːʁʷa ⟨жъуагъо⟩ | ʑʷaːʁʷa ⟨жъуагъо⟩ | vaːʁʷa ⟨вагъуэ⟩ |
stone | məʑʷa ⟨мыжъо⟩ | məʑʷa ⟨мыжъо⟩ | məva ⟨мывэ⟩ |
narrow | zaʑʷə ⟨зэжъу⟩ | zaʑʷə ⟨зэжъу⟩ | zavə ⟨зэвы⟩ |
you (pl.) | ɕʷa ⟨шъо⟩ | ɕʷa ⟨шъо⟩ | fa ⟨фэ⟩ |
honey | ɕʷaw ⟨шъоу⟩ | ɕʷaw ⟨шъоу⟩ | faw ⟨фо⟩ |
wife | ɕʷəz ⟨шъуз⟩ | ɕʷəz ⟨шъуз⟩ | fəz ⟨фыз⟩ |
black | ɕʷʼət͡sʼa ⟨шӏуцӏэ⟩ | ɕʷʼət͡sʼa ⟨шӏуцӏэ⟩ | fʼət͡sʼa ⟨фӏыцӏэ⟩ |
fire | машӏо ⟨maːɕʷʼa⟩ | машӏо ⟨maːɕʷʼa⟩ | мафӏэ ⟨maːfʼa⟩ |
dirty | ɕʷʼajə⟨шӏои⟩ | ɕʷʼajə⟨шӏои⟩ | fʼaj ⟨фӏей⟩ |
English | Proto-Circassian | Ubykh | Western Circassian | Kabardian | Baslaney | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
One | zə | зы | za | зэ | zə | зы | zə | зы | zə | зы |
Two | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʼqʷʼa | ткъӏуа | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʼəw | тӏу |
Three | ɕə | щы | ʂa | шъа | ɕə | щы | ɕə | щы | ɕə | щы |
Four | pt͡ɬʼə | птлӏы | pʼɬʼə | плӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pt͡ɬʼə | птлӏы |
Five | txʷə | тху | ɕxə | щхы | tfə | тфы | txʷə | тху | txʷə | тху |
Six | xə | хы | fə | фы | xə | хы | xə | хы | xə | хы |
Seven | bɮə | блы | blə | бльы | bɮə | блы | bɮə | блы | bɮə | блы |
Eight | jə | и | ʁʷa | гъуа | jə | и | jə | и | jə | и |
Nine | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʲə | бгъьу | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʷə | бгъу |
Ten | pʃʼə | пшӏы | ʑʷə | жъуы | pʃʼə | пшӏы | pɕʼə | пщӏы | pʃʼə | пшӏы |
Schleicher's fable in Proto-Circassian:
χʷǝ č́ʷara-gjǝ
χʷǝ ja laśʷam mә q́ˤ:an
č́ʷara pǝʎ́an;
mǝ χwanǝta k:ʷǝm q:irǝ,
mǝ čʷǝχʷa čʷam,
mǝ ć̣ǝm pasa mǝš́ʷrǝ.
χʷǝ č́ʷara q̇́ˤan:
"źǝʁʷǝ sā ǵʷǝ,
q:ać̣am ć̣arǝ č́ʷara ḳ́ʷarǝ."
č́ʷara q̇́ˤan: "q:́ˤʷa χʷǝ!
źǝʁʷǝ š́a ǵʷǝ ć̣arǝ,
q:ać̣a, ł́a, č́ʷara laśʷam
ʎ́ʷa ḳ́ač̣ʷǝm čǝ-wǝ,
χʷiara-gjǝ laśʷam mә q́ˤ:a."
nǝ q:́aˤʷasa χʷǝ rǝq:ʷada q:ˤʷan.
Proto-Circassian | |
---|---|
Proto-Adyghe–Kabardian | |
Reconstruction of | Circassian languages |
Reconstructed ancestor |
Proto-Circassian (or Proto-Adyghe–Kabardian) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Adyghean and Kabardian languages.
A Circassian dialects family tree. |
The consonant system is reconstructed with a four-way phonation contrast in stops and affricates, and a two-way contrast in fricatives.
Proto Circassian |
Western Circassian | Eastern Circassian | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Proto Western |
Shapsug | Bzhedug | Chemgui | Abzakh | Proto Eastern |
Besleney | Kabardian | |
* b ⟨б⟩ | * b ⟨б⟩ | b ⟨б⟩ | * b ⟨б⟩ | b ⟨б⟩ | ||||
* p ⟨п⟩ | * p ⟨п⟩ | p ⟨п⟩ | * b ⟨б⟩ | b ⟨б⟩ | ||||
* pʰ ⟨пʰ⟩ | * pʰ ⟨пʰ⟩ | pʰ ⟨пʰ⟩ | p ⟨п⟩ | * p ⟨п⟩ | p ⟨п⟩ | |||
* pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | * pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | * pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | ||||
* d ⟨д⟩ | * d ⟨д⟩ | d ⟨д⟩ | * d ⟨д⟩ | d ⟨д⟩ | ||||
* t ⟨т⟩ | * t ⟨т⟩ | t ⟨т⟩ | * d ⟨д⟩ | d ⟨д⟩ | ||||
* tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩ | * tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩ | tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩ | t ⟨т⟩ | * t ⟨т⟩ | t ⟨т⟩ | |||
* tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | * tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | * tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | ||||
* ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | * ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | * ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ||
* kʲ ⟨кь⟩ | * kʲ ⟨кь⟩ | kʲ ⟨кь⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | * ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ||
* kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩ | * kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩ | kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩ | t͡ʃʰ ⟨чʰ⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | * kʲ ⟨кь⟩ | kʲ ⟨кь⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | |
* kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ | * kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ | kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | * kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ | kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | ||
* ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | * ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | * ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ||||
* kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | * kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | * ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ||||
* kʷʰ ⟨кʰу⟩ | * kʷʰ ⟨кʰу⟩ | kʷʰ ⟨кʰу⟩ | kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | * kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | |||
* kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩ | * kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩ | kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩ | * kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩ | kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩ | ||||
* q ⟨къ⟩ | * q ⟨къ⟩ | q ⟨къ⟩ | * q ⟨къ⟩ | q ⟨къ⟩ | ||||
* qʰ ⟨кʰъ⟩ | * qʰ ⟨кʰъ⟩ | qʰ ⟨кʰъ⟩ | q ⟨къ⟩ | * q͡χ ⟨кхъ⟩ | q͡χ ⟨кхъ⟩ | |||
* qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | * qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | * qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | ||||
* qʷʰ ⟨кʰъу⟩ | * qʷʰ ⟨кʰъу⟩ | qʷʰ ⟨кʰъу⟩ | qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | * q͡χʷ ⟨кхъу⟩ | q͡χʷ ⟨кхъу⟩ | |||
* d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | * d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | * d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | ||||
* t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | * t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | * d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | ||||
* t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩ | * t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩ | t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩ | t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | * t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | |||
* t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ | * t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ | t͡sʼ / sʼ ⟨цӏ / сӏ⟩ | t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ | * t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ | t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ | |||
* d͡ʑʷ ⟨джъу⟩ | * d͡ʑʷ ⟨джъу⟩ | ʑʷ ⟨жьу⟩ | ʒʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | d͡zʷ ⟨дзу⟩ | ʒʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | * v ⟨в⟩ | v ⟨в⟩ | |
* t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | * t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | t͡sʷ ⟨цу⟩ | t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | * v ⟨в⟩ | v ⟨в⟩ | ||
* t͡ɕʰʷ ⟨чъʰу⟩ | * t͡ɕʰʷ ⟨чъʰу⟩ | t͡ɕʰʷ ⟨чъʰу⟩ | t͡sʷ ⟨цу⟩ | t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | * f ⟨ф⟩ | f ⟨ф⟩ | ||
* d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | * d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | * d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ||
* t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | * t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ||
* t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | * t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | * d͡ʐ ⟨джъ⟩ | d͡ʐ ⟨джъ⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | |
* t͡ʃʰ ⟨чʰ⟩ | * ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ||
* t͡ʂʰ ⟨чʰъ⟩ | * ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ||
* t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | * t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | ɕʼ / ʔʲ ⟨щӏ / ӏ⟩ | * t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | ||
* t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ | * t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ | ɕʼ / ʔʲ ⟨щӏ / ӏ⟩ | * t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ | t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ | ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | |
* z ⟨з⟩ | * z ⟨з⟩ | z ⟨з⟩ | * z ⟨з⟩ | z ⟨з⟩ | ||||
* s ⟨с⟩ | * s ⟨с⟩ | s ⟨с⟩ | * s ⟨с⟩ | s ⟨с⟩ | ||||
* ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | * ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | * ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | |||
* ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | * ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | * ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | |||
* ɕʼ ⟨шӏ⟩ | * ʃʼ ⟨шӏ⟩ | ʃʼ ⟨шӏ⟩ | * ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | ||||
* ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | * ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | ʑʷ ⟨жьу⟩ | ʒʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | * v ⟨в⟩ | v ⟨в⟩ | |||
* ɕʷ ⟨шъу⟩ | * ɕʷ ⟨шъу⟩ | ɕʷ ⟨щу⟩ | ʃʷ ⟨шъу⟩ | * f ⟨ф⟩ | f ⟨ф⟩ | |||
* ɕʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩ | * ʃʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩ | ʃʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩ | * fʼ ⟨фӏ⟩ | fʼ ⟨фӏ⟩ | ||||
* ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | * ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | * ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | |||
* ʐ ⟨жъ⟩ | * ʐ ⟨жъ⟩ | ʐ ⟨жъ⟩ | * ʐ ⟨жъ⟩ | ʐ ⟨жъ⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | |||
* ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | |||
* ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | * ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | * ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | |||
* ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | * ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ||
* ʂʰ ⟨шʰъ⟩ | * ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | * ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ||
* ɮ ⟨л⟩ | * ɮ ⟨л⟩ | ɮ ⟨л⟩ | * ɮ ⟨л⟩ | ɮ ⟨л⟩ | ||||
* ɬ ⟨лъ⟩ | * ɬ ⟨лъ⟩ | ɬ ⟨лъ⟩ | * ɬ ⟨лъ⟩ | ɬ ⟨лъ⟩ | ||||
* ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩ | * ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩ | ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩ | * ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩ | t͡ɬʼ ⟨тлӏ⟩ | ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩ | |||
* ɣ ⟨г⟩ | * ɣ ⟨г⟩ | ɣ ⟨г⟩ | * ɣ ⟨г⟩ | ɣ ⟨г⟩ | ||||
* x ⟨х⟩ | * x ⟨х⟩ | x ⟨х⟩ | * x ⟨х⟩ | x ⟨х⟩ | ||||
* xʷ ⟨ху⟩ | * f ⟨ф⟩ | f ⟨ф⟩ | * xʷ ⟨ху⟩ | xʷ ⟨ху⟩ | ||||
* ʁ ⟨гъ⟩ | * ʁ ⟨гъ⟩ | ʁ ⟨гъ⟩ | * ʁ ⟨гъ⟩ | ʁ ⟨гъ⟩ | ||||
* ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩ | * ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩ | ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩ | * ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩ | ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩ | ||||
* χ ⟨хъ⟩ | * χ ⟨хъ⟩ | χ ⟨хъ⟩ | * χ ⟨хъ⟩ | χ ⟨хъ⟩ | ||||
* χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | * χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | * χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | ||||
* ħ ⟨хь⟩ | * ħ ⟨хь⟩ | ħ ⟨хь⟩ | * ħ ⟨хь⟩ | ħ ⟨хь⟩ | ||||
* m ⟨м⟩ | * m ⟨м⟩ | m ⟨м⟩ | * m ⟨м⟩ | m ⟨м⟩ | ||||
* n ⟨н⟩ | * n ⟨н⟩ | n ⟨н⟩ | * n ⟨н⟩ | n ⟨н⟩ | ||||
* r ⟨р⟩ | * r ⟨р⟩ | r ⟨р⟩ | * r ⟨р⟩ | r ⟨р⟩ | ||||
* w ⟨у⟩ | * w ⟨у⟩ | w ⟨у⟩ | * w ⟨у⟩ | w ⟨у⟩ | ||||
* j ⟨й⟩ | * j ⟨й⟩ | j ⟨й⟩ | * j ⟨й⟩ | j ⟨й⟩ | ||||
* ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩ | * ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩ | ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩ | * ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩ | ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩ | ||||
* ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩ | * ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩ | ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩ | * ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩ | ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩ |
In the Proto-Circassian there was a series of aspirated consonants that survived in the Shapsug and Bzhedugh dialect while they became plain consonants in the other dialects.
Word | Proto Circassian |
Shapsug Bzhedug |
Abzakh Chemgui |
Kabardian |
---|---|---|---|---|
noise | pʰa ⟨пʰэ⟩ | pʰa ⟨пʰэ⟩ | pa ⟨пэ⟩ | pa ⟨пэ⟩ |
sharp | pʰaːɣa ⟨пʰагэ⟩ | pʰaːɣa ⟨пʰагэ⟩ | paːɣa ⟨пагэ⟩ | paːɣa ⟨пагэ⟩ |
pillow | ʂħaːntʰa ⟨шъхьантʰэ⟩ | ʂħaːtʰa ⟨шъхьатʰэ⟩ | ʂħaːnta ⟨шъхьантэ⟩ | ɕħaːnta ⟨щхьантэ⟩ |
wool | t͡sʰə ⟨цʰы⟩ | t͡sʰə ⟨цʰы⟩ | t͡sə ⟨цы⟩ | t͡sə ⟨цы⟩ |
brother | t͡ʃʰə ⟨чʰы⟩ | ʃʰə ⟨шʰы⟩ | ʃə ⟨шы⟩ | qʷaʃ ⟨къуэш⟩ |
lame | ɬaːʃʰa ⟨лъашʰэ⟩ | ɬaːʃʰa ⟨лъашʰэ⟩ | ɬaːʃa ⟨лъашэ⟩ | ɬaːʃa ⟨лъашэ⟩ |
thigh | kʰʷa ⟨кʰо⟩ | kʰʷa ⟨кʰо⟩ | kʷa ⟨ко⟩ | kʷa ⟨куэ⟩ |
grave | qʰa ⟨кʰъэ⟩ | qʰa ⟨кʰъэ⟩ | qa ⟨къэ⟩ | q͡χa ⟨кхъэ⟩ |
pig | qʷʰa ⟨кʰъо⟩ | qʷʰa ⟨кʰъо⟩ | qʷa ⟨къо⟩ | q͡χʷa ⟨кхъуэ⟩ |
In the Proto-Circassian there was a series of tense consonants that became voiced in the eastern dialects.
Word | Proto Circassian |
Bzhedug Chemgui |
Baslaney | Kabardian |
---|---|---|---|---|
we | ta ⟨тэ⟩ | ta ⟨тэ⟩ | da ⟨дэ⟩ | da ⟨дэ⟩ |
leader | tħamaːta ⟨тхьэматэ⟩ | tħamaːta ⟨тхьэматэ⟩ | tħamaːda ⟨тхьэмадэ⟩ | tħamaːda ⟨тхьэмадэ⟩ |
fish | pt͡saʐəja ⟨пцэжъые⟩ | pt͡saʐəja ⟨пцэжъые⟩ | bd͡zaʐej ⟨бдзэжъей⟩ | bd͡zaʑej ⟨бдзэжьей⟩ |
glass | aːpkʲ ⟨апкь⟩ | aːpt͡ʃ ⟨апч⟩ | ʔaːbɡʲ ⟨абгь⟩ | ʔaːbd͡ʒ ⟨абдж⟩ |
chicken | kʲat ⟨кьэт⟩ | t͡ʃatə ⟨чэты⟩ | ɡʲad ⟨гьэд⟩ | d͡ʒad ⟨джэд⟩ |
night | t͡ʃaɕ ⟨чэщ⟩ | t͡ʃaɕə ⟨чэщы⟩ | d͡ʒaɕ ⟨джэщ⟩ | ʒaɕ ⟨жэщ⟩ |
village | t͡ʃəɮa ⟨чылэ⟩ | t͡ʃəɮa ⟨чылэ⟩ | d͡ʒəɮa ⟨джылэ⟩ | ʒəɮa ⟨жылэ⟩ |
cow | t͡ʃam ⟨чэм⟩ | t͡ʃamə ⟨чэмы⟩ | d͡ʒam ⟨джэм⟩ | ʒam ⟨жэм⟩ |
tree | t͡ʂəɣ ⟨чъыг⟩ | t͡ʂəɣə ⟨чъыгы⟩ | d͡ʐəɣ ⟨джъыг⟩ | ʒəɣ ⟨жыг⟩ |
mouse | t͡səʁʷa ⟨цыгъо⟩ | t͡səʁʷa ⟨цыгъо⟩ | d͡zəʁʷa ⟨дзыгъуэ⟩ | d͡zəʁʷa ⟨дзыгъуэ⟩ |
short | kʲʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏьако⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏако⟩ | kʲʼaːɡʷa ⟨кӏьагуэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːɡʷa ⟨кӏагуэ⟩ |
wheat | kʷat͡s ⟨коц⟩ | kʷat͡sə ⟨коцы⟩ | ɡʷad͡z ⟨гуэдз⟩ | ɡʷad͡z ⟨гуэдз⟩ |
In the Proto-Circassian language there exist a palatalized voiced velar stop [ɡʲ] ⟨гь⟩, a palatalized aspirated voiceless velar stop [kʰʲ], a palatalized voiceless velar stop [kʲ] ⟨кь⟩ and a palatalized velar ejective [kʲʼ] ⟨кӏь⟩. The consonants гь [ ɡʲ], кь [ kʲ] and кӏь [ kʲʼ] survive in the Shapsug dialect, in the Besleney dialect and in the Kabardian Uzunyayla dialect. [1] In other Circassian dialects they were merged with the palato-alveolar consonants дж [ d͡ʒ], ч [ t͡ʃ] and кӏ [ t͡ʃʼ] respectively. [2] [3] [4]
Word | Proto Circassian |
Shapsug | Bzhedug Chemgui Abzakh |
Baslaney | Kabardian |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
to cough | pskʲʰan ⟨пскʰьэн⟩ | pskʲʰan ⟨пскʰьэн⟩ | pst͡ʃan ⟨псчэн⟩ | pskʲan ⟨пскьэн⟩ | pst͡ʃan ⟨псчэн⟩ |
game | ɡʲaɡʷ ⟨гьэгу⟩ | ɡʲaɡʷ ⟨гьэгу⟩ | d͡ʒaɡʷ ⟨джэгу⟩ | ɡʲaɡʷ ⟨гьэгу⟩ | d͡ʒaɡʷ ⟨джэгу⟩ |
shirt | ɡʲaːna ⟨гьанэ⟩ | ɡʲaːna ⟨гьанэ⟩ | d͡ʒːna ⟨джанэ⟩ | ɡʲaːna ⟨гьанэ⟩ | d͡ʒːna ⟨джанэ⟩ |
glass | aːpkʲ ⟨апкь⟩ | aːpkʲ ⟨апкь⟩ | aːpt͡ʃ ⟨апч⟩ | ʔaːbɡʲ ⟨абгь⟩ | ʔaːbd͡ʒ ⟨абдж⟩ |
chicken | kʲat ⟨кьэт⟩ | kʲat ⟨кьэт⟩ | t͡ʃatə ⟨чэты⟩ | ɡʲad ⟨гьэд⟩ | d͡ʒad ⟨джэд⟩ |
short | kʲʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏьако⟩ | kʲʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏьако⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːkʷa ⟨кӏако⟩ | kʲʼaːɡʷa ⟨кӏьагуэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːɡʷa ⟨кӏагуэ⟩ |
rope | kʲʼaːpsa ⟨кӏьапсэ⟩ | kʲʼaːpsa ⟨кӏьапсэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːpsa ⟨кӏапсэ⟩ | kʲʼaːpsa ⟨кӏьапсэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːpsa ⟨кӏапсэ⟩ |
In the Abzakh and the Kabardian dialects, the affricate postalveolar consonants became fricative.
Word | Proto Circassian |
Bzhedug Chemgui |
Abzakh | Baslaney | Kabardian |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
fox | baːd͡ʒa ⟨баджэ⟩ | baːd͡ʒa ⟨баджэ⟩ | baːʒa ⟨бажэ⟩ | baːd͡ʒa ⟨баджэ⟩ | baːʒa ⟨бажэ⟩ |
village | qʷaːd͡ʒa ⟨къуаджэ⟩ | qʷaːd͡ʒa ⟨къуаджэ⟩ | qʷaːʒa ⟨къуажэ⟩ | qʷaːd͡ʒa ⟨къуаджэ⟩ | qʷaːʒa ⟨къуажэ⟩ |
village | t͡ʃəɮa ⟨чылэ⟩ | t͡ʃəɮa ⟨чылэ⟩ | ʃəɮa ⟨шылэ⟩ | d͡ʒəɮa ⟨джылэ⟩ | ʒəɮa ⟨жылэ⟩ |
night | t͡ʃaɕ ⟨чэщ⟩ | t͡ʃaɕə ⟨чэщы⟩ | ʃaɕə ⟨шэщы⟩ | d͡ʒaɕ ⟨джэщ⟩ | ʒaɕ ⟨жэщ⟩ |
cow | t͡ʃam ⟨чэм⟩ | t͡ʃamə ⟨чэмы⟩ | ʃamə ⟨шэмы⟩ | d͡ʒam ⟨джэм⟩ | ʒam ⟨жэм⟩ |
new | t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩ | ʃʼa ⟨шӏэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼa ⟨кӏэ⟩ | ɕʼa ⟨щӏэ⟩ |
winter | t͡ʃʼəmaːxʷa ⟨кӏымахо⟩ | t͡ʃʼəmaːfa ⟨кӏымафэ⟩ | ʃʼəmaːfa ⟨шӏымафэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼəmaːxʷa ⟨кӏымахуэ⟩ | ɕʼəmaːxʷa ⟨щӏымахуэ⟩ |
young-man | t͡ʃʼaːɮa ⟨кӏалэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːɮa ⟨кӏалэ⟩ | ʔʲaːɮa ⟨ӏелэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːɮa ⟨кӏалэ⟩ | ɕʼaːɮa ⟨щӏалэ⟩ |
to sleep | t͡ʂəjan ⟨чъыен⟩ | t͡ʂəjan ⟨чъыен⟩ | ʂəjan ⟨шъыен⟩ | d͡ʐajən ⟨джъеин⟩ | ʒajən ⟨жеин⟩ |
tree | t͡ʂəɣ ⟨чъыг⟩ | t͡ʂəɣə ⟨чъыгы⟩ | ʂəɣə ⟨шъыгы⟩ | d͡ʐəɣ ⟨джъыг⟩ | ʒəɣ ⟨жыг⟩ |
to run | t͡ʂan ⟨чъэн⟩ | t͡ʂan ⟨чъэн⟩ | tʂan ⟨шъэн⟩ | d͡ʐan ⟨джъэн⟩ | ʒan ⟨жэн⟩ |
area | t͡ʂʼəpʼa ⟨чӏыпӏэ⟩ | t͡ʂʼəpʼa ⟨чӏыпӏэ⟩ | ʃʼəpʼa ⟨шӏыпӏэ⟩ | t͡ʂʼəpʼa ⟨чӏыпӏэ⟩ | ɕʼəpʼa ⟨щӏыпӏэ⟩ |
iron | ʁʷət͡ʂʼə ⟨гъучӏы⟩ | ʁʷət͡ʂʼə ⟨гъучӏы⟩ | ʃʼəpʼa ⟨гъушӏы⟩ | ʁʷət͡ʂʼə ⟨гъучӏы⟩ | ɕʼəpʼa ⟨гъущӏы⟩ |
Proto-Circassian had a labialized voiceless velar fricative [xʷ] which survived in the eastern dialects while it became a voiceless labiodental fricative [f] in the western dialects.
Word | Proto Circassian |
Western | Eastern |
---|---|---|---|
human | t͡sʼəxʷ ⟨цӏыху⟩ | t͡sʼəf ⟨цӏыф⟩ | t͡sʼəxʷ ⟨цӏыху⟩ |
white | xʷəʑ ⟨хужь⟩ | fəʑə ⟨фыжьы⟩ | xʷəʑ ⟨хужь⟩ |
hot | xʷaːba ⟨хуабэ⟩ | faːba ⟨фабэ⟩ | xʷaːba ⟨хуабэ⟩ |
day | maːxʷa ⟨махо⟩ | maːfa ⟨мафэ⟩ | maːxʷa ⟨махуэ⟩ |
Proto-Circassian had a series of labialized postalveolar consonants (t͡ɕʷ, ʑʷ, ɕʷ and ɕʷʼ). These consonants survived in the western dialects while they became labiodental consonants in the eastern dialects.
Word | Proto Circassian |
Western | Eastern |
---|---|---|---|
ox | t͡ɕʷə ⟨цу⟩ | t͡ɕʷə ⟨цу⟩ | və ⟨вы⟩ |
shoe | t͡ɕʷaːqa ⟨цуакъэ⟩ | t͡ɕʷaːqa ⟨цуакъэ⟩ | vaːqa ⟨вакъэ⟩ |
star | ʑʷaːʁʷa ⟨жъуагъо⟩ | ʑʷaːʁʷa ⟨жъуагъо⟩ | vaːʁʷa ⟨вагъуэ⟩ |
stone | məʑʷa ⟨мыжъо⟩ | məʑʷa ⟨мыжъо⟩ | məva ⟨мывэ⟩ |
narrow | zaʑʷə ⟨зэжъу⟩ | zaʑʷə ⟨зэжъу⟩ | zavə ⟨зэвы⟩ |
you (pl.) | ɕʷa ⟨шъо⟩ | ɕʷa ⟨шъо⟩ | fa ⟨фэ⟩ |
honey | ɕʷaw ⟨шъоу⟩ | ɕʷaw ⟨шъоу⟩ | faw ⟨фо⟩ |
wife | ɕʷəz ⟨шъуз⟩ | ɕʷəz ⟨шъуз⟩ | fəz ⟨фыз⟩ |
black | ɕʷʼət͡sʼa ⟨шӏуцӏэ⟩ | ɕʷʼət͡sʼa ⟨шӏуцӏэ⟩ | fʼət͡sʼa ⟨фӏыцӏэ⟩ |
fire | машӏо ⟨maːɕʷʼa⟩ | машӏо ⟨maːɕʷʼa⟩ | мафӏэ ⟨maːfʼa⟩ |
dirty | ɕʷʼajə⟨шӏои⟩ | ɕʷʼajə⟨шӏои⟩ | fʼaj ⟨фӏей⟩ |
English | Proto-Circassian | Ubykh | Western Circassian | Kabardian | Baslaney | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
One | zə | зы | za | зэ | zə | зы | zə | зы | zə | зы |
Two | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʼqʷʼa | ткъӏуа | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʼəw | тӏу |
Three | ɕə | щы | ʂa | шъа | ɕə | щы | ɕə | щы | ɕə | щы |
Four | pt͡ɬʼə | птлӏы | pʼɬʼə | плӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pt͡ɬʼə | птлӏы |
Five | txʷə | тху | ɕxə | щхы | tfə | тфы | txʷə | тху | txʷə | тху |
Six | xə | хы | fə | фы | xə | хы | xə | хы | xə | хы |
Seven | bɮə | блы | blə | бльы | bɮə | блы | bɮə | блы | bɮə | блы |
Eight | jə | и | ʁʷa | гъуа | jə | и | jə | и | jə | и |
Nine | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʲə | бгъьу | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʷə | бгъу |
Ten | pʃʼə | пшӏы | ʑʷə | жъуы | pʃʼə | пшӏы | pɕʼə | пщӏы | pʃʼə | пшӏы |
Schleicher's fable in Proto-Circassian:
χʷǝ č́ʷara-gjǝ
χʷǝ ja laśʷam mә q́ˤ:an
č́ʷara pǝʎ́an;
mǝ χwanǝta k:ʷǝm q:irǝ,
mǝ čʷǝχʷa čʷam,
mǝ ć̣ǝm pasa mǝš́ʷrǝ.
χʷǝ č́ʷara q̇́ˤan:
"źǝʁʷǝ sā ǵʷǝ,
q:ać̣am ć̣arǝ č́ʷara ḳ́ʷarǝ."
č́ʷara q̇́ˤan: "q:́ˤʷa χʷǝ!
źǝʁʷǝ š́a ǵʷǝ ć̣arǝ,
q:ać̣a, ł́a, č́ʷara laśʷam
ʎ́ʷa ḳ́ač̣ʷǝm čǝ-wǝ,
χʷiara-gjǝ laśʷam mә q́ˤ:a."
nǝ q:́aˤʷasa χʷǝ rǝq:ʷada q:ˤʷan.