X-Nico

4 unusual facts about North Caucasian languages


Fortis and lenis

Many North Caucasian languages (Northwest and especially Northeast) have a consonantal distinction described as "strong" or "preruptive" that has concomitant length.

Kartvelian languages

No relationship with other languages, including the two North Caucasian language families, has been demonstrated so far.

If the Dené–Caucasian hypothesis, which attempts to link Basque, Burushaski, the North Caucasian families and other phyla, is correct, then the similarities to Basque may also be due to these influences, however indirect.

Nij, Azerbaijan

The Udi language is a North Caucasian language.


Demographics of Europe

The Turkic and Mongolic families also have several European members, while the North Caucasian and Kartvelian families are important in the southeastern extremity of geographical Europe.


see also