tʷaχəbzɜ
Ubykh
NW Caucasian (Ubykh, isolate within family)
Ubykh (tʷaχəbzɜ, literally “the Ubykh language”) was a Northwest Caucasian language formerly spoken near Sochi on the northeastern Black Sea coast. After the Russian conquest and mass expulsion of 1864, Ubykh communities resettled in the Ottoman Empire and increasingly shifted to Turkish; the death of the last fully fluent speaker, Tevfik Esenç, on 7 October 1992 is conventionally treated as the language’s extinction. Descriptions generally analyze about eighty consonant phonemes but only two basic vowel phonemes, although the exact analysis varies. Ubykh had no widely adopted community orthography, so surviving texts and recordings use linguistic transcription. Georges Dumézil began documenting the language in 1929, and work by him, Esenç, Hans Vogt, and others preserves extensive linguistic and oral-literary material.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Ubykh
Sources
- Dumézil, Georges (1931) La Langue des Oubykhs. Paris: Champion
- Vogt, Hans (1963) Dictionnaire de la langue Oubykh. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget
- Dumézil, Georges (1975) Le verbe oubykh. Paris: Klincksieck
- Hewitt, B. George (2004) Introduction to the Study of the Languages of the Caucasus. LINCOM Europa
- Glottolog: Ubykh (ubyk1235)
- Ethnologue: uby
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: NW Caucasian (Ubykh, isolate within family)
| Meaning | Ubykh | Adyghe | Abaza | Kabardian | Abkhaz | Wichita | Lardil |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | bzə /bzə/ | псы /psə/ | дзы /dzə/ | псы /psə/ | аӡы /adzə/ | kicʔa /kitsʔa/ | nguka /ŋuka/ |
| Fire | mzʼə /mzʼə/ | машӏо /maːʃʷʼa/ | мца /mtsa/ | мафӏэ /mafʼa/ | амца /amtsa/ | heːcʔa /heːtsʔa/ | nyuda /ɲuda/ |
| Sun | dəɣʷa /dəɣʷa/ | тыгъэ /təʁa/ | мара /mara/ | дыгъэ /dəʁa/ | амра /amra/ | saːkhirʔa /saːkʰiɾʔa/ | warrka /waɾka/ |
| Moon | mazə /mazə/ | мазэ /maːza/ | мзы /mzə/ | мазэ /maza/ | амза /amza/ | waːh /waːh/ | kirdikir /kiɖikir/ |
| Star | tʃʷʼakʲ /tʃʷʼakʲʼ/ | жъуагъо /ʐʷaːʁʷa/ | айачӏва /ajatʃʷʼa/ | вагъуэ /waʁʷa/ | аеҵәа /ajtsʷʼa/ | hiːkwirikʔa /hiːkʷiɾikʔa/ | kuwa thungal /kuwa θuŋal/ |
| Night | śwa /ɕʷa/ | чэщы /tʃaˈɕə/ | уахъы /waqə/ | жэщ /ʒaɕ/ | аҵх /atsʼχ/ | ckhaːrʔa /tskʰaːɾʔa/ | nata /nata/ |
| Snow | źʷadzə /ʑʷadzə/ | осы /wasə/ | сы /sə/ | уэс /was/ | асы /asə/ | hiraːʔa /hiɾaːʔa/ | — |
| Earth | tɕʰʷaʁˤʷə /tɕʰʷaʁˤʷə/ | чӏыгу /tʃʼəɡʷ/ | адгьыл /adɡʲəl/ | щӏы /ɕʼə/ | анышә /anəʃʷ/ | — | — |
| Stone | laqa /laqa/ | мыжъо /məʐʷa/ | хӏахъвы /ħaqʷə/ | мывэ /məwa/ | ахаҳә /axaħʷ/ | — | — |
| Sea | ʃʷa /ʃʷa/ | хы /xə/ | амшын /amʃən/ | хы /xə/ | амшын /amʂən/ | — | — |
| Mother | nan /nan/ | ны /nə/ | аны /anə/ | анэ /ana/ | ан /an/ | eciyeːh /etsijeːh/ | ngama /ŋama/ |
| Father | tʷə /tʷə/ | ты /tə/ | аба /aba/ | адэ /ada/ | аб /ab/ | taːtah /taːtah/ | kantha /kan̪t̪a/ |
| Daughter | pχʲa /pʰχʲa/ | пхъу /pχʷə/ | пхӏа /pħa/ | пхъу /pχʷə/ | аԥҳа /apʰħa/ | — | — |
| I | sʁʷa /sʁʷa/ | сэ /sa/ | сара /saˈra/ | сэ /sa/ | сара /saˈra/ | nacʔih /natsʔih/ | ngada /ŋada/ |
| You | wʁʷa /wʁʷa/ | о /wa/ | уара /waˈra/ | уэ /wa/ | уара /waˈra/ | nasʔih /nasʔih/ | nyingki /ɲiŋki/ |
| We | ʃʁʷała /ʃʁʷaɬa/ | тэ /ta/ | хӏара /ħaˈra/ | дэ /da/ | ҳара /ħaˈra/ | — /—/ | ngakuli / nyali /ŋakuli / ɲali/ |
| Name | pʼtsʼa /pʼtsʼa/ | цӏэ /tsʼa/ | хьыз /χʲəz/ | цӏэ /tsʼa/ | ахьӡ /axʲdz/ | hissaːrʔa /hissaːɾʔa/ | nyunda /ɲunda/ |
| Eye | bla /bla/ | нэ /na/ | ла /la/ | нэ /na/ | абла /abla/ | kirikʔa /kiɾikʔa/ | kuwa /kuwa/ |
| Ear | laqʼʷəma /laqʼʷəma/ | тхьакӏумэ /tħakʷʼma/ | лымхӏа /ləmħa/ | тхьэкӏумэ /tħakʷʼma/ | алымҳа /aləmħa/ | — | — |
| Nose | fatɕʼa /fatɕʼa/ | пэ /pa/ | пынцӏа /pəntsʼa/ | пэ /pa/ | аҧынҵа /apʰəntsʼa/ | — | — |
| Mouth | tʃʼa /tʃʼa/ | жэ /ʒa/ | шӏа /tʃʼa/ | жьэ /ʑa/ | аҿы /aʈʂʼə/ | — | — |
| Tooth | cakʼə /tsakʼʲə/ | цэ /tsa/ | пыц /pəts/ | дзэ /dza/ | ахаҧыц /aχapʰɨtsʰ/ | aːkʔa /aːkʔa/ | kadma leman /kadma leman/ |
| Tongue | bza /bʒa/ | бзэгу /bzaɡʷə/ | бзы /bzə/ | бзэгу /bzaɡʷə/ | абз /abz/ | hacʼa /hatsʔa/ | jalda leman /dʒalda leman/ |
| Hand | ɂa /ʔa/ | ӏэ /ʔa/ | напӏы /napʼə/ | ӏэ /ʔa/ | анапы /anapə/ | iskʔa /iskʔa/ | marlda /maɭda/ |
| Foot | ła:pʼa /ɬaːpʼa/ | лъакъо /ɬaːˈqʷa/ | щапӏы /ɕapʼə/ | лъакъуэ /ɬaqʷa/ | ашьапы /ɑʃɑpʼɨ/ | asʔa /asʔa/ | jaa /dʒaː/ |
| Heart | gʷə /ɡʷə/ | гу /ɡʷə/ | гвы /ɡʷə/ | гу /ɡʷə/ | агәы /aɡʷə/ | sikicʔa /sikitsʔa/ | bulja /buldʒa/ |
| Bone | pqë /pqə/ | къупшъхьэ /qʷəpʂħa/ | бгӏвы /bʕʷə/ | къупщхьэ /qʷʼəpɕħa/ | абаҩ /abaɥ/ | kiːsʔa /kiːsʔa/ | kadma /kadma/ |
| Blood | ła /ɬa/ | лъы /ɬə/ | ща /ɕa/ | лъы /ɬə/ | ашьа /aʂa/ | waːckicʔa /waːtskitsʔa/ | kanda /kanda/ |
| Poop | ćxə /tɕʰxə/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Love | — /—/ | шӏу лъэгъун /ʃʷʼə ɬaʁʷən/ | бзибара /bzibara/ | лъагъуныгъэ /ɬaʁʷənəʁa/ | абзиабара /abziabara/ | — /—/ | — /—/ |
| Tree | ɣʷənə /ɣʷənə/ | чъыгы /tʂəɣə/ | цӏла /tsʼla/ | жыг /ʒəɡ/ | аҵла /atsʼla/ | tiyaːhkw /tijaːhkʷ/ | thungal /θuŋal/ |
| Dog | la /la/ | хьэ /ħa/ | ла /la/ | хьэ /ħa/ | ала /aˈlːa/ | kiciyeːh /kitsijeːh/ | ngawa /ŋawa/ |
| Cat | — /—/ | чэтыу /tʃatəw/ | цгвы /tsɡʷə/ | джэду /dʒadu/ | ацгәы /atsɡʷə/ | — /—/ | — /—/ |
| Fish | psa /psa/ | пцэжъые /ptsaʐəja/ | пслачва /pslatʃʷa/ | бдзэжьей /bdzaʐej/ | аҧсыӡ /apʰsɨdz/ | kaːcʔa /kaːtsʔa/ | yaka /jaka/ |
| Bird | ʁʷəndʷə /ʁʷəndʷə/ | бзыу /bzəw/ | пссгӏачӏвы /psːʕatʃʷʼə/ | бзу /bzu/ | аҧсаа /apʰsaː/ | ichir /itsʰiɾ/ | — |
| Butterfly | χapʼraːɕʷa /χapʼraːɕʷa/ | хьампӏырашъу /ħaːmpʼəˈraːʂʷə/ | лымхӏарыгӏв /ləmħarəʕʷ/ | хьэндырабгъуэ /ħandərabʁʷa/ | аҧарҧалыкь /ɑpʰɑrpʰɑlɨkʼʲ/ | — | — |
| Bear | məšwa /məʃʷa/ | мышъэ /məʂa/ | мшвы /mʃʷə/ | мыщэ /məɕa/ | амшә /amʂʷ/ | — | — |
| Horse | čʰʲə /tʃʰʲə/ | шы /ʃə/ | тшы /tʃə/ | шы /ʃə/ | аҽы /atʂə/ | — | — |
| House | tʷəna /tʷəna/ | унэ /wəna/ | гӏвна /ʕʷna/ | унэ /wəna/ | аҩны /aːɥnə/ | akhaːrʔa /akʰaːɾʔa/ | ngambirr /ŋambir/ |
| Milk | čʰʲa /tʃʰʲa/ | щэ /ɕa/ | хшы /χʃə/ | шэ /ʃa/ | ахш /axʃ/ | — | — |
| Honey | šwanə /ʃʷanə/ | шъоу /ʂʷaw/ | цха /tsχa/ | фо /faw/ | ацха /atsxa/ | — | — |
| Salt | ǯʲə /dʒʲə/ | щыгъу /ɕəʁʷ/ | джькӏа /dʑkʼa/ | шыгъу /ʃəʁʷ/ | аџьыка /adʑəka/ | — | — |
| Wine | baqʼəsma /baqʼəsma/ | санэ /saːna/ | чагӏыр /tɕaʕər/ | санэ /sana/ | аҩы /aɥˤə/ | — | — |
| Iron | wəcʼwa /wətsʼʷa/ | гъучӏы /ʁʷətʃʼə/ | айха /ajχa/ | гъущӏ /ʁʷəɕʼ/ | аиха /aixa/ | — | — |
| Wheel | čʰarx /tʃʰarχ/ | щэрэхъ /ɕaraχ/ | чарх /tɕarχ/ | шэрхъ /ʃarχ/ | агьежь /aɡʲeʒ/ | — | — |
| Silk | bˤafəm /bˤafəm/ | данэ /daːna/ | чыльа /tɕəɮa/ | дарий /darij/ | абырфын /abərfən/ | — | — |
| Book | ʃʷəqʼa /ʃʷəqʼa/ | тхылъ /txəɬ/ | книга /kniɡa/ | тхылъ /txəɬ/ | ашәҟәы /aʂʷqʷʼə/ | — | — |
| Eat | f /f/ | шхэн /ʃxan/ | фара /fara/ | шхэн /ʃxan/ | афара /afara/ | kaʔac /kaʔats/ | jitha /dʒiθa/ |
| Drink | dzʷa /dzʷa/ | ешъон /jaʂʷan/ | жвра /ʒʷra/ | ефэн /jafan/ | ажәра /aʒʷra/ | kikʔa /kikʔa/ | kurdama /kuɖama/ |
| Sleep | tɕʰʷa /tɕʰʷa/ | чъыен /tʂəjan/ | чвара /tʃʷara/ | жеин /ʒejən/ | ацәара /atsʷara/ | — | — |
| One | za /za/ | зы /zə/ | закӏы /zakʼə/ | зы /zə/ | акы /akə/ | chiʔass /tsʰiʔass/ | warnge /waɾŋe/ |
| Two | tqʷʼa /tqʷʼa/ | тӏу /tʷʼə/ | гӏвба /ʕʷba/ | тӏу /tʷʼə/ | ҩба /ɥba/ | wic /wits/ | kiyarrng /kijaɾŋ/ |
| Three | śa /ɕa/ | щы /ɕə/ | хпа /χpa/ | щы /ɕə/ | хԥа /χpʰa/ | taw /taw/ | mungkalan /muŋkalan/ |
| Four | pʼɬʼə /pʼɬʼə/ | плӏы /pɬʼə/ | пщба /pɕba/ | плӏы /pɬʼə/ | пшьба /pʃba/ | taːkwic /taːkʷits/ | — |
| Five | šxə /ʃχə/ | тфы /tfə/ | хвба /χʷba/ | тху /txʷu/ | хәба /xʷba/ | — | — |
| Hello | — /—/ | шӏуфэс /ʃʷʼəfas/ | мшыбзи /mʃəbzi/ | фӏэхъус /fʼaχʷəs/ | мшыбзиа /mʃəbzia/ | — /—/ | — /—/ |
| Thank you | — /—/ | тхьауегъэпсэу /tħaːwajʁapsaw/ | таабит /taːbit/ | фӏыщӏэ /fʼəɕʼa/ | иҭабуп /itʰabup/ | — /—/ | — /—/ |
| Good | ʈʂʼa /ʈʂʼa/ | дэгъу /daʁʷ/ | бзи /bzi/ | фӏы /fʼə/ | абзиа /abzia/ | acs /atss/ | kuba /kuba/ |
| Red | pɬaʒʲa /pɬaʒʲa/ | плъыжьы /pɬəʑə/ | къапщы /qʼapɕə/ | плъыжь /pɬəʑ/ | аҟаҧшь /ɑqʼɑpʰʃ/ | kwhaːc /kʷʰaːts/ | kandukan /kandukan/ |
| Black | dʒa /dʒa/ | шӏуцӏэ /ʃʷʼətsʼa/ | квайчӏва /kʷajtʃʷʼa/ | фӏыцӏэ /fʼətsʼa/ | аиқәаҵәа /ajkʷʰatsʼʷa/ | — | — |
| Green | ʁˤaqʼa /ʁˤaqʼa/ | уцышъо /wətsəʂʷa/ | удзышва /udzəʃʷa/ | удзыфэ /wədzəfa/ | аиаҵәа /ajatsʼʷa/ | — | — |
| Blue | ʁˤaqʼa /ʁˤaqʼa/ | шхъуантӏэ /ʃχʷaːnˈtʼa/ | — | щхъуантӏэ /ɕχʷaːntʼa/ | аиаҵәа /ajatsʼʷa/ | — | — |
| Cuckoo | kʷəgʷ /kʷəɡʷ/ | кукуу /kʷəkʷəw/ | квыква /kʷəkʷa/ | кӏыгуугу /tʃʼəɡʷuːɡʷu/ | акәыкәы /akʷəkʷə/ | — | — |
| Coffee | kʼahwa /kʼahwa/ | коф /kof/ | — | къэхьэуэ /qaħawa/ | акаҳуа /akaħʷa/ | — | — |
| Sugar | šakʲar /ʃakʰʲar/ | шъоущыгъу /ʃʷawɕəʁʷ/ | — | фошыгъу /fawʃəʁʷ/ | ашьақар /aʃakar/ | — | — |
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