Proto-Circassian language
Proto-Circassian (or Proto-Adyghe–Kabardian) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Adyghean and Kabardian languages.
Phonology
Vocalism and accent
In bisyllabic roots, two possible places of accent are reconstructed, with the following development of structures in descendant languages:
PAK | Adyghe | Kabardian | Examples | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard | Shapsug | Meaning | Standard Adyghe | Shapsug | Kabardian | ||
*CáCa | CaːC | CaːCa | CaːCa | ||||
*CáCǝ | CaC | CaC | CaC | ||||
*Cǝ́Ca | CǝC | - | CǝCa | ||||
*Cǝ́Cǝ | CǝC | CǝC | CǝC | ||||
*CaCá | CaːCa | CaːCa | CaːCa | shirt beard grape | джанэ [d͡ʒaːna] жакӏэ [ʒaːt͡ʃʼa] санэ [saːna] | гьанэ [gʲaːna] жакӏьэ [ʒaːkʲʼa] санэ [saːna] | джанэ [d͡ʒaːna] жьакӏэ [ʑaːt͡ʃʼa] санэ [saːna] |
*CaCǝ́ | CaCǝ | CaC | CaC | night snow chicken | чэщы [t͡ʃaɕə] осы [wasə] чэты [t͡ʃatə] | чэщ [t͡ʃaɕ] ос [was] кьэт [kʲat] | жэщ [ʒaɕ] уэс [was] джэд [d͡ʒad] |
*CǝCá | CǝCa | CǝCa | CǝCa | gold house cold | дышъэ [dəʂa] унэ [wəna] чъыӏэ [t͡ʂəʔa] | дышъэ [dəʂa] унэ [wəna] чьыӏэ [t͡ɕəʔa] | дыщэ [dəɕa] унэ [wəna] щӏыӏэ [ɕʼəʔa] |
*CəCǝ́ | CǝCǝ | CǝC | CǝC | grass disease | уцы [wət͡sə] узы [wəzə] | уц [wət͡s] уз [wəz] | удз [wəd͡z] уз [wəz] |
In other words, Adyghe retains the distinction between *a and *ǝ in the 2nd syllable, if it was originally stressed; the 2nd syllable vowel is dropped in originally unstressed syllables. Kabardian retains the distinction uniformly, by dropping *ǝ but not *a. Both groups retain the quality distinction in the first syllable, and additionally display a long vowel in roots of the original shape *CaCa (regardless of stress).
Consonants
The consonant system is reconstructed with a four-way phonation contrast in stops and affricates, and a two-way contrast in fricatives.
Proto | Cyrillic | Adyghe | Kabardian | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kuban river | Black Sea coast | ||||||||
Bzhedug | Temirgoy | Abzakh | Shapsug | Standard | Besleney | ||||
Aspirated consonants |
*pʰ | пʰ | pʰ ⟨п⟩ | p ⟨п⟩ | pʰ ⟨пʰ⟩ | p ⟨п⟩ | |||
*tʰ | тʰ | tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩ | t ⟨т⟩ | tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩ | t ⟨т⟩ | ||||
*t͡sʰ | цʰ | t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩ | t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩ | t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | ||||
*t͡sʰʷ | цʰу | t͡ɕʰʷ ⟨чъʰу⟩ | t͡sʷ ⟨цу⟩ | t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | t͡ɕʰʷ ⟨чъʰу⟩ | f ⟨f⟩ | |||
*t͡ɕʰ | чьʰ | t͡ʂʰ ⟨чъʰ⟩ | t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | t͡ʃʰ ⟨чʰ⟩ | ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | |||
*t͡ʃʰ | чʰ | ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | t͡ɕ ⟨чь⟩ | |||
*t͡ʂʰ | чъʰ | ʂʰ ⟨шъʰ⟩ | ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ʂʰ ⟨шъʰ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ||||
*ʃʰ | шʰ | ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ||||
*ʂʰ | шъʰ | ʂʰ ⟨шъʰ⟩ | ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ʂʰ ⟨шъʰ⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ||||
*kʰʲ | кьʰ | t͡ʃʰ ⟨чʰ⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | kʰʲ ⟨кʰь⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | kʲ ⟨кь⟩ | |||
*kʰʷ | кʰу | kʰʷ ⟨кʰу⟩ | kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | kʰʷ ⟨кʰу⟩ | kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | ||||
*qʰ | къʰ | qʰ ⟨къʰ⟩ | q ⟨къ⟩ | qʰ ⟨кʰъ⟩ or χ ⟨хъ⟩ | q͡χ ⟨кхъ⟩ | ||||
*qʰʷ | къʰу | qʰʷ ⟨къʰу⟩ | qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | qʰʷ ⟨къʰу⟩ or χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | q͡χʷ ⟨кхъу⟩ | ||||
Geminate stops and affricates |
*p | п | p ⟨п⟩ | b ⟨б⟩ | |||||
*t | т | t ⟨т⟩ | d ⟨д⟩ | ||||||
*t͡s | ц | t͡s ⟨ц⟩ | d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | ||||||
*t͡sʷ | цу | t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | t͡sʷ ⟨цу⟩ | t͡ɕʷ ⟨чъу⟩ | v ⟨в⟩ | ||||
*t͡ɕ | чь | t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ||||
*t͡ʃ | ч | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ||||
*t͡ʂ | чъ | t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | |||
*kʲ | кь | t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ | kʲ ⟨кь⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | ||||
*kʷ | ку | kʷ ⟨ку⟩ | ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ||||||
*q | къ | q ⟨къ⟩ | q ⟨къ⟩ | ||||||
*qʷ | къу | qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | qʷ ⟨къу⟩ | ||||||
*ʔ | ӏ | ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩ | ʔ ⟨ӏ⟩ | ||||||
*ʔʷ | ӏу | ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩ | ʔʷ ⟨ӏу⟩ | ||||||
Geminate voiced stops and affricates |
*b | б | b ⟨б⟩ | b ⟨б⟩ | |||||
*d | д | d ⟨д⟩ | d ⟨д⟩ | ||||||
*d͡z | дз | d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | d͡z ⟨дз⟩ | ||||||
*d͡zʷ | дзу | ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | d͡zʷ ⟨дзу⟩ | ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | v ⟨в⟩ | ||||
*d͡ʑ | джь | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | ||||||
*d͡ʒ | дж | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ||||
*d͡ɮ | дл | ɣ ⟨г⟩ | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ||||||
*ɡʲ | гь | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ | ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ | ||||
*ɡʷ | гу | ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩ | ||||||
Ejective stops and affricates |
*pʼ | пӏ | pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | |||||
*pʷʼ | пӏу | pʷʼ ⟨пӏу⟩ | pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | pʼ ⟨пӏ⟩ | |||||
*tʼ | тӏ | tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | ||||||
*tʷʼ | тӏу | tʷʼ ⟨тӏу⟩ | tʼ ⟨тӏ⟩ | ||||||
*t͡sʼ | цӏ | t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ | t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ and sʼ ⟨сӏ⟩ | t͡sʼ ⟨цӏ⟩ | |||||
*t͡sʷʼ or sʷʼ | цӏу or сӏу | ɕʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩ | fʼ ⟨фӏ⟩ | ||||||
*t͡ɕʼ | чӏь | ʃʼ ⟨шӏ⟩ | ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | ||||||
*t͡ʃʼ | кӏ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | ʔʲ ⟨ӏь⟩ and ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | |||
*t͡ʂʼ | чӏ | t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ | ʔʲ ⟨ӏь⟩ and ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩ | ||||
*t͡ɬʼ | тлӏ | ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩ | ɬʼ ⟨лӏ⟩ | t͡ɬʼ ⟨тлӏ⟩ | |||||
*kʲʼ | кӏь | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ | t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ | kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ | ||||
*kʷʼ | кӏу | kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩ | kʷʼ ⟨кӏу⟩ | ||||||
Voiceless fricatives |
*s | с | s ⟨с⟩ | s ⟨с⟩ | |||||
*sʷ | су | ɕʷ ⟨шъу⟩ | f ⟨ф⟩ | ||||||
*ɕ | щ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ||||||
*ʃ | ш | ʃ ⟨ш⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ||||||
*ʂ | шъ | ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ | ɕ ⟨щ⟩ | ||||||
*ɬ | лъ | ɬ ⟨лъ⟩ | ɬ ⟨лъ⟩ | ||||||
*x | х | x ⟨х⟩ | x ⟨х⟩ | h and x ⟨х⟩ | |||||
*xʷ | ху | f ⟨ф⟩ | xʷ ⟨ху⟩ | ||||||
*χ | хъ | χ ⟨хъ⟩ | χ ⟨хъ⟩ | ||||||
*χʷ | хъу | χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | χʷ ⟨хъу⟩ | ||||||
*χʲ | хъь | ħ ⟨хь⟩ | χ ⟨хъ⟩ | ħ ⟨хь⟩ | |||||
*ħ | хь | ħ ⟨хь⟩ | ħ ⟨хь⟩ | ||||||
Voiced fricatives |
*z | з | z ⟨з⟩ | z ⟨з⟩ | |||||
*zʷ | зу | ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | v ⟨в⟩ | ||||||
*ʑ | жь | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | ||||||
*ʒ | ж | ʒ ⟨ж⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | ||||||
*ʐ | жъ | ʐ ⟨жъ⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | ||||||
*ɮ | л | ɮ ⟨л⟩ | l ⟨ль⟩ | ɮ ⟨л⟩ | l ⟨ль⟩ | ||||
*ɣ | г | ɣ ⟨г⟩ | ɣ ⟨г⟩ | ||||||
*ɣʲ | г | ɣ ⟨г⟩ | ʑ ⟨жь⟩ | ||||||
*ʁ | гъ | ʁ ⟨гъ⟩ | ʁ ⟨гъ⟩ | ||||||
*ʁʷ | гъу | ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩ | ʁʷ ⟨гъу⟩ | ||||||
Resonants | *m | м | m ⟨м⟩ | m ⟨м⟩ | |||||
*ɮ | н | n ⟨н⟩ | n ⟨н⟩ | ||||||
*r | р | r ⟨р⟩ | r ⟨р⟩ | ||||||
*j | й | j ⟨й⟩ | j ⟨й⟩ | ||||||
*w | у | w ⟨у⟩ | w ⟨у⟩ |
Bilabial stops пʰ, п, б and пӏ
- Proto-Circassian aspirated пʰ [pʰ] survived in the Bzhedug dialect and in other Circassian dialects it became plain п [p].
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bzhedug | Temirgoy and Abzakh | Shapsug | ||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
sharp | pʰaːpt͡sʼa | пʰапцӏэ | pʰaːpʰt͡sʼa | пʰапцӏэ | paːpt͡sʼa | папцӏэ | paːpsʼa | папсӏэ | папцӏэ | paːpt͡sʼa |
arrogant | pʰaːɣa | пʰагэ | pʰaːɣa | пʰагэ | paːɣa | пагэ | paːɣa | пагэ | paːɣa | пагэ |
nose | pʰa | пʰэ | pʰa | пʰэ | pa | пэ | pa | пэ | pa | пэ |
- Proto-Circassian plain voiceless bilabial stop п [p] become voiced б [b] in the Kabardian dialect.
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy and Bzhedug | Shapsug | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
glass | ʔaːpkʲ | апкь | ʔaːpt͡ʃ | апч | ʔaːpkʲ | апкь | абдж | ʔaːbd͡ʒ |
today | nəjapa | ныепэ | najpa | непэ | napa | нэпэ | nawba | нобэ |
thorn | paːna | панэ | paːna | панэ | ? | ? | baːna | банэ |
hard | pəta | пытэ | pəta | пытэ | pəta | пытэ | bəda | быдэ |
goat | pt͡ʃan | пчэн | pt͡ʃanə | пчэны | pt͡ʃan | пчэн | bʒan | бжэн |
enemy | pəj | пый | pəj | пый | pəj | пый | bəj | бий |
to count | pt͡ʂən | пчъын | pt͡ʂən | пчъын | pt͡ɕən | пчьын | bʒən | бжын |
Alveolar stops тʰ, т, д and тӏ
- Proto-Circassian aspirated тʰ [tʰ] survived in the Bzhedug dialect and Shapsug, while in other Circassian dialects it became plain т [t].
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bzhedug and Shapsug | Temirgoy, Abzakh | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
respect | pχaːtʰa | пхъатʰэ | pχaːtʰa | пхъатʰэ | pχaːta | пхъатэ | - | - |
to disband | tʼatʰan | тӏэтʰэн | tʼatʰan | тӏэтʰэн | tʼatan | тӏэтэн | tʼatan | тӏэтэн |
to give | jatʰən | етʰын | jatʰən | етʰын | jatən | етын | jatən | етын |
to take | ʃtʰan | штʰэн | ʃtʰan | штʰэн | ʃtan | штэн | ɕtan | щтэн |
on | tʰajt | тʰет | tʰajt | тʰет | tajt | тет | tajt | тет |
smooth | t͡sʼaːsʷtʰa | цӏасутʰэ | t͡sʼaːʃʷtʰa | цӏашъутʰэ | t͡sʼaːʃʷta | цӏашъутэ | t͡sʼaːfta | цӏафтэ |
to afraid | ɕtʰan | щтʰэн | ɕtʰan | щтʰэн | ɕtan | щтэн | ɕtan | щтэн |
pillow | ʂħaːntʰa | шъхьантʰэ | ʂħaːntʰa | шъхьантʰэ | ʂħaːnta | шъхьантэ | ɕħaːta | щхьатэ |
- Proto-Circassian plain voiceless alveolar stop т [t] become voiced д [d] in the Kabardian dialect.
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy, Abzakh and Bzhedug | Shapsug | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
we | ta | тэ | ta | тэ | ta | тэ | da | дэ |
shoulder | taːma | тамэ | taːma | тамэ | taːma | тамэ | daːma | дамэ |
sun | təʁa | тыгъэ | təʁa | тыгъэ | təʁa | тыгъэ | dəʁa | дыгъэ |
Kabardian | qabartaːj | къэбэртай | qabartaːj | къэбэртай | qabartaːj | къэбэртай | qabardej | къэбэрдей |
leader | tʰħamaːta | тʰхьэматэ | tħamaːta | тхьэматэ | tħamaːta | тхьэматэ | tħamaːda | тхьэмадэ |
garden | xaːta | хатэ | xaːta | хатэ | xaːta | хатэ | xaːda | хадэ |
rooster, cock | ataːqa | атакъэ | ataːqa | атакъэ | атакъэ | ataːqa | adaːqa | адакъэ |
duck | pʰsəkʲat | псыкьэт | psət͡ʃat | псычэт | psəkʲat | псыкьэт | psəd͡ʒad | псыджэд |
silver | təʑən | тыжьын | təʑənə | тыжьыны | təʑən | тыжьын | dəʑən | дыжьын |
yesterday | təʁʷaːsa | тыгъуасэ | təʁʷaːsa | тыгъуасэ | təʁʷaːsa | тыгъуасэ | dəʁʷaːsa | дыгъуасэ |
wolf | təʁʷəʐ | тыгъужъ | təʁʷəʐ | тыгъужъ | təʁʷəʐ | тыгъужъ | dəʁʷəʑ | дыгъужъ |
chicken | kʲat | кьэт | t͡ʃat | чэт | kʲat | кьэт | d͡ʒad | джэд |
cat | kʲatəw | кьэтыу | t͡ʃatəw | чэтыу | kʲatəw | кьэтыу | d͡ʒadəw | джэдыу |
hard | pəta | пытэ | pəta | пытэ | pəta | пытэ | bəda | быдэ |
Alveolar affricates цʰ, ц, дз and цӏ
- Proto-Circassian aspirated цʰ [t͡sʰ] survived in the Bzhedug dialect and in other Circassian dialects it became plain ц [t͡s].
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bzhedug | Temirgoy, Abzakh and Shapsug | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
wool | t͡sʰə | цʰы | t͡sʰə | цʰы | t͡sə | цы | t͡sə | цы |
eyelash | nabzət͡sʰ | нэбзыцʰ | nabzət͡sʰ | нэбзыцʰ | nabzət͡s | нэбзыц | - | - |
- Proto-Circassian plain voiceless alveolar affricate ц [t͡s] become voiced дз [d͡z] in the Kabardian dialect.
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
tooth | t͡sa | цэ | t͡sa | цэ | d͡za | дзэ |
mouse | t͡səʁʷa | цыгъо | t͡səʁʷa | цыгъо | d͡zəʁʷa | дзыгъуэ |
fish | pt͡saʐəja | пцэжъые | pt͡saʐəja | пцэжъые | bd͡zaʑəj | бдзэжьей |
grass | wət͡sə | уцы | wət͡sə | уцы | wəd͡zə | удзы |
green | wət͡səsʷa | уцысуэ | wət͡səɕʷa | уцышъо | wəd͡zəfa | удзыфэ |
Alveolo-palatal affricates чьʰ, чь and чӏь
- Proto-Circassian aspirated voiceless alveolo-palatal affricate ч [t͡ɕʰ] become plain чъ [t͡ʂ] in Temirgoy and aspirated чъʰ [t͡ʂʰ] in Bzhedug dialect, ш [ʃ] in the Abzakh dialect and щӏ [ɕʼ] in the Kabardian dialect.<ref name""=>Спирантизация аффрикат (Russian)</ref>
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bzhedug | Temirgoy | Abzakh | Shapsug | |||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
cold | t͡ɕʰəʔa | чьʰыӏэ | t͡ʂʰəʔa | чъʰыӏэ | t͡ʂəʔa | чъыӏэ | ʃəʔa | шыӏэ | t͡ɕəʔa | чьыӏэ | ɕʼəʔa | щбыӏэ |
Proto-Circassian plain voiceless alveolo-palatal affricate чь [t͡ɕ] also become чъ [t͡ʂ] in the Temirgoy and Bzhedug dialect, ш [ʃ] in the Abzakh dialect but ж [ʒ] in the Kabardian dialect.<ref name""=>Спирантизация аффрикат (Russian)</ref>
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bzhedug | Temirgoy | Abzakh | Shapsug | |||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
to run | t͡ɕan | чьэн | t͡ʂan | чъэн | t͡ʂan | чъэн | ʃan | шэн | t͡ɕan | чьэн | ʒan | жэн |
Palato-alveolar affricates чʰ, ч, дж and кӏ
- Proto-Circassian aspirated чʰ [t͡ʃʰ] become ш [ʃ] in most Adyghe and Kabardian dialects but become aspirated шʰ [ʃʰ] in Bzhedug and чь [t͡ɕ] in Baslaney.
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | Baslaney | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bzhedug | Temirgoy, Abzakh and Shapsug | |||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
horse brother | t͡ʃʰə | чʰы | ʃʰə | шʰы | ʃə | шы | ʃə | шы | t͡ɕə | чьы |
wedding | nəsaːt͡ʃʰa | нысачʰэ | nəsaːʃʰa | нысашʰэ | nəsaːʃa | нысашэ | nəsaːʃa | нысашэ | nəsaːt͡ɕa | нысачьэ |
sister | t͡ʃʰəpχʷ | чʰыпхъу | ʃʰəpχʷ | шʰыпхъу | ʃəpχʷ | шыпхъу | ʃəpχʷ | шыпхъу | t͡ɕəpχʷ | чьыпхъу |
sand | pt͡ʃʰaːχʷa | пчʰахъо | pʃʰaːχʷa | пшʰахъо | pʃaːχʷa | пшахъо | pʃaːχʷa | пшахъуэ |
- Proto-Circassian voiceless palato-alveolar affricate ч [t͡ʃ] become щ [ɕ] in the Abzakh dialect and ж [ʒ] in the Kabardian dialect.<ref name""=>Спирантизация аффрикат (Russian)</ref>
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy, Shapsug and Bzhedug | Abzakh | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
cow | t͡ʃam | чэм | t͡ʃamə | чэмы | ɕam | щэм | ʒam | жэм |
spear | pt͡ʃə | пчы | pt͡ʃə | пчы | pɕə | пщы | bʒə | бжы |
goat | pt͡ʃan | пчэн | pt͡ʃanə | пчэны | pɕanə | пщэны | bʒan | бжэн |
village | t͡ʃəɮa | чылэ | t͡ʃəɮa | чылэ | ɕəla | щылэ | ʒəɮa | жылэ |
night | t͡ʃaɕ | чэщ | t͡ʃaɕ | чэщ | ɕaɕə | щэщы | ʒaɕ | жэщ |
- Proto-Circassian дж [d͡ʒ] survived in the Adyghe diaelcts, but became ж [ʒ] in the Kabardian dialect. The дж [d͡ʒ] in Kabardian derives from Proto-Circassian plain кь [kʲ] and гь [ɡʲ].
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
fox | baːd͡ʒa | баджэ | baːd͡ʒa | баджэ | baːʒa | бажэ |
arch, bridge | ɬaməd͡ʒ | лъэмыдж | ɬaməd͡ʒ | лъэмыдж | ɬaməʒ | лъэмыж |
flour | ħad͡ʒəʁa | хьэджыгъэ | ħaːd͡ʒəʁa | хьаджыгъэ | ħaʒəʁa | хьэжыгъэ |
knee | ɬaɡʷaːnd͡ʒa | лъэгуанджэ | ɬaɡʷaːnd͡ʒa | лъэгуанджэ | ɬaɡʷaːnʒa | лъэгуанжэ |
village | qʷaːd͡ʒa | къуаджэ | qʷaːd͡ʒa | къуаджэ | qʷaːʒa | къуажэ |
- Proto-Circassian palato-alveolar ejective affricate кӏ [tʃʼ] become a palatalized glottal stop ӏь [ʔʲ] or an alveolo-palatal ejective fricative щӏ [ɕʼ] in the Abzakh dialect and an alveolo-palatal ejective fricative щӏ [ɕʼ] in the Kabardain dialect.<ref name""=>Переднеязычные мягкие шипящие аффрикаты дж, ч, к1 (Russian)</ref>
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy, Shapsug, Bzhedug and Baslaney | Abzakh | ||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic |
young man, boy | t͡ʃʼaːɮa | кӏалэ | t͡ʃʼaːɮa | кӏалэ | ʔʲaːla | ӏьалэ | ɕʼaːɮa | щӏалэ | |
guest | ħaːt͡ʃʼa | хьакӏэ | ħaːt͡ʃʼa | хьакӏэ | ħaːʔʲa | хьаӏьэ | ħaːɕʼa | хьащӏэ | |
few | maːt͡ʃʼa | макӏэ | maːt͡ʃʼa | макӏэ | maːʔʲa | маӏьэ | maːɕʼa | мащӏэ | |
to regret | t͡ʃʼaʁʷaʑən | кӏэгъожьын | t͡ʃʼaʁʷaʑən | кӏэгъожьын | ʔʲaʁʷaʑən | ӏьэгъожьын | ɕʼaʁʷaʒən | щӏэгъуэжын | |
to ask | t͡ʃʼawpt͡ʃʼan | кӏэупчӏэн | t͡ʃʼawpt͡ʃʼan | кӏэупчӏэн | ʔʲawpɕʼan | ӏьэупщӏэн | ɕʼawpt͡ʃʼan | щӏэупкӏэн | |
fast | psənt͡ʃʼa | псынкӏэ | psənt͡ʃʼa | псынкӏэ | psənɕʼa | псынщӏэ | psənɕʼa | псынщӏэ | |
to fast | nat͡ʃʼən | нэкӏын | nat͡ʃʼən | нэкӏын | naʔʲən | нэӏьын | naɕʼən | нэщӏын | |
new | t͡ʃʼa | кӏэ | t͡ʃʼa | кӏэ | ɕʼa | щӏэ | ɕʼa | щӏэ |
Retroflex affricates чъʰ, чъ, джъ and чӏ
- Proto-Circassian plain voiceless retroflex affricate чъ [ʈ͡ʂ] become ч [t͡ʃ] in Shapsug, ш [ʃ] in Abzakh, ж [ʒ] in the Kabardian and дж [d͡ʒ] in the Baslaney dialect.
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | Baslaney | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bzhedug and Temirgoy | Shapsug | Abzakh | ||||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
tree | ʈ͡ʂəɣə | чъыгы | ʈ͡ʂəɣə | чыгы | t͡ʃəɣ | чыг | ʃəɣ | шыг | ʒəɣ | жыг | d͡ʒəɣ | джьыг |
to sleep | ʈ͡ʂəjan | чъыен | ʈ͡ʂəjan | чъыен | t͡ʃəjan | чыен | ʃəjan | шыен | ʒəjan | жыен | d͡ʒəjan | джыен |
to run | ʈ͡ʂan | чъэн | ʈ͡ʂan | чъэн | t͡ʃan | чэн | ʃan | шэн | ʒan | жэн | d͡ʒan | джэн |
door | pʈ͡ʂa | пчъэ | pʈ͡ʂa | пчъэ | pt͡ʃa | пчэ | pʃa | пшэ | pʒa | пжэ | pd͡ʒa | пджэ |
number | pʈ͡ʂaːʁa | пчъагъэ | pʈ͡ʂaːʁa | пчъагъэ | pt͡ʃaːʁa | пчагъэ | pʃaːʁa | пшагъэ | pʒaːʁa | пжагъэ | pd͡ʒaːʁa | пджагъэ |
goat | aːʈ͡ʂa | ачъэ | aːʈ͡ʂa | ачъэ | aːt͡ʃa | ачэ | aːʃa | ашэ | aːʒa | ажэ | aːd͡ʒa | аджэ |
to run down | jaʈ͡ʂaxən | ечъэхын | jaʈ͡ʂaxən | ечъэхын | jat͡ʃaxən | ечэхын | jaʃaxən | ешэхын | jaʒaxən | ежэхын | jad͡ʒaxən | еджэхын |
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
friend | nəbd͡ʐaʁʷ | ныбджъэгъу | nəbd͡ʒaʁʷ | ныбджэгъу | nəbʑaʁʷ | ныбжьэгъу |
- Proto-Circassian retroflex ejective affricate чӏ [ʈ͡ʂʼ] become a palatalized glottal stop ӏь [ʔʲ] or an alveolo-palatal ejective fricative щӏ [ɕʼ] in the Abzakh dialect, a palato-alveolar ejective affricate кӏ [t͡ʃʼ] in Shapsug and alveolo-palatal ejective fricative щӏ [ɕʼ] in the Kabardain dialect.<ref name""=>Переднеязычные твердые шипящие аффрикаты дж, чъ, ч1 (Russian)</ref>
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy and Bzhedug | Shapsug | Abzakh | ||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
stands under | ʈ͡ʂʼat | чӏэт | ʈ͡ʂʼat | чӏэт | t͡ʃʼat | кӏэт | ʔʲat | ӏьэт | ɕʼat | щӏэт |
sits under | ʈ͡ʂʼas | чӏэс | ʈ͡ʂʼas | чӏэс | t͡ʃʼas | кӏэс | ʔʲas | ӏьэс | ɕʼas | щӏэс |
lies under | ʈ͡ʂʼaɬ | чӏэлъ | ʈ͡ʂʼaɬ | чӏэлъ | t͡ʃʼaɬ | кӏэлъ | ʔʲaɬ | ӏьэлъ | ɕʼaɬ | щӏэлъ |
question | wəpʈ͡ʂʼa | упчӏэ | wəpʈ͡ʂʼa | упчӏэ | wəpt͡ʃʼa | упкӏэ | wəpɕʼa | упщӏэ | wəpt͡ʃʼa | упщӏэ |
to ask | t͡ʃʼawpʈ͡ʂʼan | кӏэупчӏэн | t͡ʃʼawpʈ͡ʂʼan | кӏэупкӏэн | t͡ʃʼawpt͡ʃʼan | кӏэупчӏэн | ʔʲawpɕʼan | ӏьэупщӏэн | ɕʼawpt͡ʃʼan | щӏэупкӏэн |
earth | ʈ͡ʂʼəɡʷ | чӏыгу | ʈ͡ʂʼəɡʷ | чӏыгу | t͡ʃʼəɡʷ | кӏыгу | t͡ʃʼəɡʷ | щӏыгу | ɕʼəɡʷ | щӏыгу |
place | ʈ͡ʂʼəpʼa | чӏыпӏэ | ʈ͡ʂʼəpʼa | чӏыпӏэ | t͡ʃʼəpʼa | кӏыпӏэ | ɕʼəpʼa | щӏыпӏэ | ɕʼəpʼa | щӏыпӏэ |
debt | ʈ͡ʂʼəxwa | чӏыхуэ | ʈ͡ʂʼəfa | чӏыфэ | t͡ʃʼəfa | кӏыфэ | ɕʼəfa | щӏыфэ | ɕʼəxʷa | щӏыхуэ |
iron | ʁʷəʈ͡ʂʼə | гъучӏы | ʁʷəʈ͡ʂʼə | гъучӏы | ʁʷət͡ʃʼə | гъукӏы | ʁʷəɕʼə | гъущӏы | ʁʷəɕʼə | гъущӏы |
Palato-alveolar stops кьʰ, кь, гь and кӏь
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 (e.g. Kfar Kama dialect), in the Besleney dialect and in the Uzunyayla dialect.<ref name""=>Консонантная система уляпского говора в сопоставлении с аналогами других диалектов адыгских языков (Russian)</ref> In other Circassian dialects they were merged with the palato-alveolar consonants дж [d͡ʒ], ч [t͡ʃ] and кӏ [t͡ʃʼ] respectively.<ref name""=>Палатализация (смягчение) и аффрикатизация согласных (Russian)</ref>[1]<ref name""=>Studia Caucasologica I page 11 (English)</ref> Proto-Circassain unaspirated кь [kʲ] become гь [ɡʲ] in Besleney dialect and Uzunyayla dialect and it become дж [d͡ʒ] in the other Kabardian dialects (кь [kʲ] → гь [ɡʲ] → дж [d͡ʒ]).
- Proto-Circassian aspirated кьʰ [kʰʲ] became aspirated чʰ [t͡ʃʰ] in Bzhedug, plain кь [kʲ] in Shapsug and in other dialects plain ч [t͡ʃ] :
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bzhedug | Temirgoy and Abzakh | Shapsug | ||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
spleen | kʰʲa | кьʰэ | t͡ʃʰa | чʰэ | t͡ʃa | чэ | kʲa | кьэ | t͡ʃa | чэ |
brushwood twig | kʰʲə | кьʰы | t͡ʃʰə | чʰы | t͡ʃə | чы | kʲə | кьы | t͡ʃə | чы |
to cough | pskʰʲan | пскьʰэн | pst͡ʃʰan | псчʰэн | pst͡ʃan | псчэн | pskʲan | пскьэн | pst͡ʃan | псчэн |
- Proto-Circassian кь [kʲ] survived in Shapsug. In other Adyghe dialects it became ч [t͡ʃ] and in Kabardian it became дж [d͡ʒ] :
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy and Abzakh | Shapsug | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
chicken | kʲatə | кьэты | t͡ʃatə | чэты | kʲat | кьэт | d͡ʒad | джэд |
cat | kʲatəw | кьэтыу | t͡ʃatəw | чэтыу | kʲatəw | кьэтыу | d͡ʒadəw | джэдыу |
glass | ʔaːpkʲ | апкь | ʔaːpt͡ʃ | апч | ʔaːpkʲ | апкь | ʔaːbd͡ʒ | абдж |
to spin | ʁakʲarazən | гъэкьэрэзын | ʁat͡ʃarazən | гъэчэрэзын | ʁakʲarazən | гъэкьэрэзын | ʁad͡ʒarazən | гъэджэрэзын |
cheerful | kʲaxʷə | кьэху | чэфы | t͡ʃafə | кьэфы | kʲafə | d͡ʒaxʷə | джэху |
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy and Abzakh | Shapsug | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
egg | kʲʼankʲʼa | кӏьэнкӏьэ | t͡ʃʼant͡ʃʼa | кӏэнкӏэ | kʲʼaːkʲʼa | кӏьакӏьэ | t͡ʃʼant͡ʃʼa | кӏэнкӏэ |
gun | kʲʼaraːχʷa | кӏьэрахъо | t͡ʃʼaraːχʷa | кӏэрахъо | kʲʼaraːχʷa | кӏьэрахъо | t͡ʃʼaraːχʷa | кӏэрахъуэ |
long | kʲʼəħa | кӏьыхьэ | t͡ʃʼəħa | кӏыхьэ | kʲʼaħə | кӏьэхьы | t͡ʃʼəħ | кӏыхь |
short | kʲʼat͡ʃʼə | кӏьэкӏы | t͡ʃʼat͡ʃʼə | кӏэкӏы | t͡ʃʼat͡ʃʼə | кӏьэкӏы | t͡ʃʼaɕʼ | кӏэщӏ |
to kill | wkʲʼən | укӏьын | wt͡ʃʼən | укӏын | wkʲʼən | укӏьын | wt͡ʃʼən | укӏын |
rope | kʲʼaːpsa | кӏьапсэ | t͡ʃʼaːpsa | кӏапсэ | kʲʼaːpsa | кӏьапсэ | t͡ʃʼaːpsa | кӏапсэ |
key | ʔʷənkʲʼəbza | ӏункӏьыбзэ | ʔʷənt͡ʃʼəbza | ӏункӏыбзэ | ʔʷəkʲʼəbza | ӏукӏьыбзэ | ʔʷənt͡ʃʼəbza | ӏункӏыбзэ |
tail | kʲʼa | кӏьэ | t͡ʃʼa | кӏэ | kʲʼa | кӏьэ | t͡ʃʼa | кӏэ |
beard | ʒaːkʲʼa | жакӏьэ | ʒaːt͡ʃʼa | жакӏэ | ʒaːkʲʼa | жакӏьэ | ʑaːt͡ʃʼa | жьакӏэ |
Temirgoy | kʲʼaməɡʷəja | кӏьэмыгуе | t͡ʃʼaməɡʷəja | кӏэмыгуе | kʲʼaməɡʷəja | кӏьэмыгуе | t͡ʃʼaməɡʷəja | кӏэмыгуе |
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy and Abzakh | Shapsug | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
dress/shirt | ɡʲaːna | гьанэ | d͡ʒaːna | джанэ | ɡʲaːna | гьанэ | d͡ʒaːna | джанэ |
to study to read to call | jaɡʲan | егьэн | jad͡ʒan | еджэн | jaɡʲan | егьэн | jad͡ʒan | еджэн |
infidel | ɡʲaːwər | гьаур | d͡ʒaːwər | джаур | ɡʲaːwər | гьаур | d͡ʒaːwər | джаур |
to play | ɡʲagʷən | гьэгун | d͡ʒagʷən | джэгун | ɡʲagʷən | гьэгун | d͡ʒagʷən | джэгун |
game | ɡʲagʷ | гьэгу | d͡ʒagʷ | джэгу | ɡʲagʷ | гьэгу | d͡ʒagʷ | джэгу |
toy | ɡʲaɡʷaːɬa | гьэгуалъэ | d͡ʒagʷaːɬa | джэгуалъэ | ɡʲagʷaːɬa | гьэгуалъэ | d͡ʒagʷaːɬa | джэгуалъэ |
bitter | dəɡʲə | дыгьы | dəd͡ʒə | дыджы | dəɡʲə | дыгьы | dəd͡ʒ | дыдж |
pants | ʁʷanʃaɡʲ | гъоншэгь | ʁʷant͡ʃad͡ʒ | гъончэдж | ʁʷaʃaɡʲ | гъошэгь | ʁʷanʃad͡ʒ | гъоншэдж |
evil | bzaːɡʲa | бзагьэ | bzaːd͡ʒa | бзаджэ | bzaːɡʲa | бзагьэ | bzaːd͡ʒa | бзаджэ |
spider | baɡʲə | бэгьы | bad͡ʒə | бэджы | baːɡʲa | багьэ | bad͡ʒ | бэдж |
that's it | ɡʲaːrə | гьары | d͡ʒaːrə | джары | ɡʲaːrə | гьары | d͡ʒaːrə | джары |
Palato-alveolar fricative шʰ, ш, ж and шӏ
- Proto-Circassian aspirated шʰ [ʃʰ] survived in the Bzhedug dialect. In other Adyghe dialects it became plain щ [ɕ] while in Kabardian it became plain ш [ʃ].
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bzhedug and Shapsug | Temirgoy, Abzakh | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
milk | ʃʰa | шʰэ | ʃʰa | шʰэ | ɕa | щэ | ʃa | шэ |
lame | ɬaːʃʰa | лъашʰэ | ɬaːʃʰa | лъашʰэ | ɬaːɕa | лъащэ | ɬaːʃa | лъашэ |
salt | ʃʰəʁʷ | шʰыгъу | ʃʰəʁʷ | шʰыгъу | ɕəʁʷ | щыгъу | ʃəʁʷ | шыгъу |
cloud | pʃʰa | пшʰэ | pʃʰa | пшʰэ | pɕa | пщэ | pʃa | пшэ |
pus | ʃʰənə | шʰыны | ʃʰənə | шʰыны | - | - | ʃən | шын |
accordion | pʃʰəna | пшʰынэ | pʃʰəna | пшʰынэ | pɕəna | пщынэ | pʃəna | пшынэ |
fat | pʃʰarə | пшʰэры | pʃʰarə | пшʰэры | pɕarə | пщынэ | pʃar | пшэр |
wax | ʃʰaxʷə | шʰэху | ʃʰafə | шʰэфы | - | - | ʃaxʷə | шэху |
Labialized palato-alveolar цу, су, зу and сӏу
The Proto-Circassian language did not had labiodental consonants (ф [f] and в [v]). There existed a series of labialized alveolar sibilant affricates and fricatives: *[tsʷ] ⟨цу⟩, *[sʷʼ] ⟨сӏу⟩, *[sʷ] ⟨су⟩, *[zʷ] ⟨зу⟩. In Adyghe Temirgoy dialect they became *[tsʷ] ⟨цу⟩, *[ʃʼʷ] ⟨шӏу⟩, *[ʃʷ] ⟨шъу⟩, *[ʒʷ] ⟨жъу⟩. In Shapsug, Bzhedug and Abzakh dialects of Adyghe they become labiopalatalized *[tɕʷ] ⟨чъу⟩, *[ʃʼʷ] ⟨шӏу⟩, *[ʃʷ] ⟨шъу⟩, *[ʒʷ] ⟨жъу⟩, and in Kabardian they become labiodental consonants *[v] ⟨в⟩, *[fʼ] ⟨фӏ⟩, *[f] ⟨ф⟩, *[v] ⟨в⟩.
- Proto-Circassian aspirated цʰу [t͡sʰʷ] became чъʰу [t͡ɕʰʷ] in Bzhedug, цу [t͡sʷ] in Temirgoy, чъу [t͡ɕʷ] in Shapsug and Abzakh and ф [f] in Kabardian.
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bzhedug | Temirgoy | Abzakh and Shapsug | ||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
jungle/bushy area | t͡sʰʷənə | цʰуны | t͡ɕʰʷənə | чъʰуны | t͡sʷənə | цуны | t͡ɕʷənə | чъуны | fən | фын |
- Proto-Circassian су [sʷ] became шъу [ʃʷ] in the Adyghe dialects and ф [f] in the Kabardian dialects :
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
skin color you (plural) | sʷa | суэ | ɕʷa | шъо | fa | фэ |
honey | sʷaw | суэу | ɕʷaw | шъоу | faw | фо |
wife | sʷəz | суз | ɕʷəz | шъуз | fəz | фыз |
green | wət͡səsʷa | уцысуэ | wət͡səɕʷa | уцышъо | wəd͡zəfa | удзыфэ |
- Proto-Circassian зу [zʷ] became жъу [ʒʷ] in the Adyghe dialects and в [v] in the Kabardian dialects :
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
to boil, to plow | zʷan | зуэн | ʒʷan | жъон | van | вэн |
stone, rock | məzʷa | мызуэ | məʑʷa | мыжъо | məva | мывэ |
star | zʷaːʁʷa | зуагъо | ʑʷaːʁʷa | жъуагъо | vaːʁʷa | вагъуэ |
narrow | zazʷə | зэзу | zaʑʷə | зэжъу | zavə | зэвы |
wide | ʔʷəzʷə | ӏузу | ʔʷəʑʷə | ӏужъу | ʔʷəvə | ӏувы |
- Proto-Circassian сӏу [sʷʼ] or цӏу [t͡sʷʼ] became шӏу [ʃʷʼ] in the Adyghe dialects and фӏ [fʼ] in the Kabardian dialects :
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy and Abzakh | Shapsug | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
well | sʷʼə | сӏу | ɕʷʼə | шӏу | ɕʷʼə | шӏу | fʼə | фӏы |
black | sʷʼət͡sʼa | сӏуцӏэ | ɕʷʼət͡sʼa | шӏуцӏэ | ɕʷʼət͡sʼa | шӏусӏэ | ɕʷʼəsʼa | фӏыцӏэ |
fire | maːsʷʼa | масӏуэ | maːɕʷʼa | машӏо | maːɕʷʼa | машӏо | maːfʼa | мафӏэ |
dirty | sʷʼajə | сӏуэи | ɕʷʼajə | шӏои | ɕʷʼajə | шӏои | fʼej | фӏей |
- Proto-Circassian цу [t͡sʷ] survived in Temirgoy. In most Adyghe dialects (e.g. Abzakh, Shapsug and Bzhedug) it became чъу [t͡ɕʷ] and in the Kabardian dialects it became в [v] :
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy | Shapsug, Bzhedug and Abzakh | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
shoes | t͡sʷaːqa | цуакъэ | t͡sʷaːqa | цуакъэ | t͡ɕʷaːqa | чъуакъэ | vaːqa | вакъэ |
ox | t͡sʷə | цу | t͡sʷə | цу | t͡ɕʷə | чъу | və | вы |
ploughshare | t͡sʷaːbza | цуабзэ | t͡sʷaːbza | цуабзэ | t͡ɕʷaːbza | чъуабзэ | vaːbd͡za | вабзэ |
raven | t͡sʷəndə | цунды | t͡sʷəndə | цунды | ? | ? | vənd | вынд |
Labiodental [f] ⟨ф⟩ is found also in Adyghe, but there it derives from the Proto-Circassian labialized voiceless velar fricative [xʷ] ⟨ху⟩, which survived in the East Circassian dialects (e.g. Kabardian and Besleney).
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy and Abzakh | Shapsug | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
day | maːxʷa | махуэ | maːfa | мафэ | maːfa | мафэ | maːxʷa | махуэ |
white | xʷəʑə | хужьы | fəʑə | фыжьы | fəʑə | фыжьы | xʷəʑə | хужьы |
person | t͡sʼəxʷə | цӏыху | t͡sʼəfə | цӏыфы | t͡sʼəfə | цӏыфы | t͡sʼəxʷ | цӏыху |
hot | xʷaːba | хуабэ | faːba | фабэ | faːba | фабэ | xʷaːba | хуабэ |
corn | nartəxʷ | нартыху | nartəf | нартыф | natəf | натыф | nartəxʷ | нартыху |
like | xʷad | хуэд | fad | фэд | fad | фэд | xʷad | хуэд |
to want | xʷajan | хуэен | fajan | фэен | fajan | фэен | xʷajan | ? |
garlic | bʑənəxʷ | бжьыныху | bʑənəf | бжьыныф | bʑənəf | бжьыныф | bʑənəxʷ | бжьыныху |
man | χʷəɬxʷəʁa | хъулъхугъэ | χʷəɬfəʁa | хъулъфыгъэ | qʷəlfəʁa | къулфыгъэ | χʷəɬxʷəʁa | хъулъхугъэ |
woman | bzəɬxʷəʁa | бзылъхугъэ | bzəɬfəʁa | бзылъфыгъэ | bzəlfəʁa | бзылфыгъэ | bzəɬxʷəʁa | бзылъхугъэ |
tin | t͡saxʷ | цэху | t͡saf | цэф | t͡saf | цэф | d͡zːaxʷ | дзэху |
light | naxʷə(n) | нэху(н) | nafən | нэфын | nafna | нэфнэ | naxʷ | нэху |
straight man | zaːxʷa | захуэ | zaːfa | зафэ | zaːfa | зафэ | zaːxʷa | захуэ |
Labialized velar fricatives кʰу, ку, гу and кӏу
- Proto-Circassian aspirated кʰу [kʰʷ] survived in Bzhedug and in other Circassian dialects it became plain ку [kʷ].
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bzhedug | Temirgoy, Abzakh and Shapsug | |||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
middle | kʰʷə | кʰу | kʰʷə | кʰу | kʷə | ку | kʷə | ку |
thigh | kʰʷa | кʰо | kʰʷa | кʰо | kʷa | ко | kʷa | куэ |
- Proto-Circassian plain ку [kʷ] became voiced гу [ɡʷ] in the Kabardian dialects :
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Shapsug | Kabardian | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
twig | ? | ? | kʷaːma | куамэ | ? | ? | ɡʷaːna | гуанэ |
group | kʷarta | кортэ | kʷart | корт | ? | ? | ɡʷarta | гуэрт |
pitchfork | kʷaːχʷa | куахъо | kʷaːχʷa | куахъо | kʷaːχʷa | куахъо | ɡʷarta | гуахъуэ |
wheat | kʷat͡s | коц | kʷat͡sə | коцы | kʷat͡s | коц | ɡʷad͡z | гуэдз |
short | kʲʼaːkʷa | кӏьако | t͡ʃʼaːkʷa | кӏако | kʲʼaːkʷa | кӏьако | t͡ʃʼaːɡʷa | кӏагуэ |
Other noticeable changes
Uvular affricates
The consonant aspirated voiceless uvular stop [qʰ] ⟨къʰ⟩ and its labialized counterpart [qʰʷ] ⟨къʰу⟩ survived in Bzhedug. In the Temirgoy dialect they become къ [q] and къу [qʷ] while in some Shapsug dialects they become хъ [χ] and хъу [χʷ]. In Kabardian they became affricate voiceless uvular affricate [q͡χ] ⟨кхъ⟩ and labialized voiceless uvular affricate [q͡χʷ] ⟨кхъу⟩.
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy | Kfar Kama | Bzhedug | ||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
son | qʷa | къо | qʷa | къо | qʷa | къо | qʷa | къо | qʷa | къуэ |
man | χʷəɬxʷəʁa | хъулъхугъэ | χʷəɬfəʁa | хъулъфыгъэ | qʷəlfəʁa | къулфыгъэ | χʷəɬfəʁa | хъулъфыгъэ | χʷəɬxʷəʁa | хъулъхугъэ |
grave | qʰa | къʰэ | qa | къэ | χa | хъэ | qʰa | къʰэ | q͡χa | кхъэ |
male | χʷə | хъу | χʷə | хъу | χʷə | хъу | χʷə | хъу | χʷə | хъу |
pig | qʰʷa | къʰо | qʷa | къо | χʷa | хъо | qʰʷa | къʰо | q͡χʷa | кхъуэ |
cheese | ? | ? | q͡ʷaːja | къуае | χʷaːja | хъуае | ? | ? | q͡χʷej | кхъуей |
voice/sound | ? | ? | maːqa | макъэ | maːχa | махъэ | ? | ? | maːq | макъ |
ship | ? | ? | qʷəħa | къухьэ | qʷaħ | къохь | ? | ? | q͡χʷaħ | кхъухь |
ant | ? | ? | qaːmzaɡʷ | къамзэгу | χaːnzaɡʷ | хъанзэгу | ? | ? | χʷəmpʼat͡sʼad͡ʒ | хъумпӏэцӏэдж |
peer | ? | ? | qʷəʐə | къужъы | qʷəʐə | къужъы | ? | ? | q͡χʷəʑə | кхъужьы |
Lateral affricates
In the Proto-Circassian there existed an alveolar lateral ejective affricate *[t͡ɬʼ]. This consonant survived in the Besleney dialect of Kabardian . In most Circassian dialects it become an alveolar lateral ejective fricative [ɬʼ].[2]
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | Besleney | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy | Shapsug | Abzakh | ||||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
four | pt͡ɬʼə | птлӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pt͡ɬʼə | птлӏы |
to die | mat͡ɬʼan | мэтлӏэн | maɬʼan | мэлӏэн | maɬʼan | мэлӏэн | maɬʼan | мэлӏэн | maɬʼan | мэлӏэн | mat͡ɬʼan | мэтлӏэн |
man/husband | t͡ɬʼə | тлӏы | ɬʼə | лӏы | ɬʼə | лӏы | ɬʼə | лӏы | ɬʼə | лӏы | t͡ɬʼə | тлӏы |
There also existed voiced alveolar lateral affricate *[d͡ɮ] that become [ɣ] in Adyghe and [ʒ] in Kabardian and a palatalized voiced velar fricative *[ɣʲ] that become [ɣ] in Adyghe and [ʑ] in Kabardian.
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy | Shapsug | Abzakh | ||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
rip | t͡saːd͡ɮa | цадлэ | t͡saːɣa | цагэ | t͡saːɣa | цагэ | t͡saːɣa | цагэ | d͡zaːʒa | дзажэ |
to wash, to launder | ɣʲət͡ʃʼan | гыкӏэн | ɣət͡ʃʼan | гыкӏэн | ɣət͡ʃʼan | гыкӏэн | ɣət͡ʃʼan | гыкӏэн | ʑəɕʼan | жьыщӏэн |
Glottal stops
The consonants glottal stop [ʔ] and labialized glottal stop [ʔʷ] in Proto-Circassian may have come from uvular ejective [qʼ] and labialized uvular ejective [qʷʼ]. In the Hakuchi dialect it is pronounced as [qʼ] and [qʷʼ].[3]
Word | Proto-Circassian | Ubykh | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | ||
two | tʼqʷʼə ~ tʔʷə | тӏыкъӏу | tʼqʷʼa | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʼəw | тӏу |
to say | qʼan ~ ʔʷan | къӏуэн | qʼan | ʔʷan | ӏон | ʔʷan | ӏуэн |
hand | ʔa ~ qʼa | къӏэ | ? | ʔa | ӏэ | ʔa | ӏэ |
table | ʔaːna ~ qʼaːna | къӏанэ | ? | ʔaːna | ӏанэ | ʔaːna | ӏанэ |
hat | paːqʷʼa ~ paːʔʷa | пакъӏуэ | ? | paːʔʷa | паӏо | ? | ? |
Palatalized velar fricative
- Proto-Circassian palatalized voiceless uvular fricative хъь [χʲ] become хь [ħ] in most Adyghe dialects and in some Kabardian dialects it became to хъ [χ].
Word | Proto-Circassian | Adyghe | Kabardian | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
more | naχʲ | нэхъь | naːħ | нахь | naχ | нэхъ |
older brother | ʃənaχʲəʐ | шынэхъьыжъ | ʃənaħəʐ | шынахьыжъ | ʃənaχəʑ | шынэхъыжь |
younger brother | ʃənaχʲət͡ʃʼ | шынэхъьыкӏ | ʃənaħət͡ʃ | шынахьыкӏ | ʃənaχəɕʼ | шынэхъыщӏ |
Grammar
Numbers
English | Proto-Circassian | Ubykh | Adyghe | Kabardian | Baslaney | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temirgoy and Bzhedug | Shapsug and Abzakh | |||||||||||
IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
One | zə | зы | za | зэ | zə | зы | zə | зы | zə | зы | zə | зы |
Two | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʼqʷʼa | ткъӏуа | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʼəw | тӏу | ? | тӏу |
Three | ɕə | щы | ʂa | шъа | ɕə | щы | ɕə | щы | ɕə | щы | ɕə | щы |
Four | pt͡ɬʼə | птлӏы | pʼɬʼə | плӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pt͡ɬʼə | птлӏы |
Five | txʷə | тху | ɕxə | щхы | tfə | тфы | tfə | тфы | txʷə | тху | txʷə | тху |
Six | xə | хы | fə | фы | xə | хы | xə | хы | xə | хы | xə | хы |
Seven | bɮə | блы | blə | бльы | bɮə | блы | blə | бльы | bɮə | блы | blə | бльы |
Eight | jə | и | ʁʷa | гъуа | jə | и | jə | и | jə | и | jə | и |
Nine | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʲə | бгъьу | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʷə | бгъу |
Ten | pʃʼə | пшӏы | ʑʷə | жъуы | pʃʼə | пшӏы | pʃʼə | пшӏы | pɕʼə | пщӏы | pʃʼə | пшӏы |
See also
References
- ↑ Переднеязычные мягкие шипящие аффрикаты дж, ч, к1 (Russian)
- ↑ UCLA Phonetics Lab Archive - Recording Details for Kabardian Baslanei dialect. In the first word list called kbd_word-list_1970_01.html the word "dress" is pronounced as /ɡʲaːna/ compare to Standard Kabardian /d͡ʒaːna/. The words "man" and "quarter" are pronounced as /t͡ɬʼə/ and /pt͡ɬʼaːna/ compare to Standard Kabardian /ɬʼə/ and /pɬʼaːna/
- ↑ Ларингализация (Russian)
- STAROSTIN, Sergei A.; NIKOLAYEV, Sergei L. (1994). A North Caucasian Etymological Dictionary: Preface.