Georgia

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Abkhaz
[abk] Abkhaz Republic, Black Sea coast. 101,000 in Georgia (1993). Population total all countries: 112,740. Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Abkhazia, co-official with Georgian (1995, Constitution, Article 8). Alternate Names: Abxazo Dialects: Abzhui, Bzyb, Samurzakan. Classification: North Caucasian, West Caucasian, Abkhaz-Abazin Comments: Christian, Muslim.

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Armenian
[hye] 448,000 in Georgia. Status: 5 (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Somkhuri Classification: Indo-European, Armenian

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Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
[aii] Erevan and scattered in Transcaucasia. 3,000 in Georgia (1999). Ethnic population: 14,000. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Aisorski Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern Comments: ‘Aisor’ is the Russian name for the people. Christian (Nestorian).

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Avar
[ava] Kakheti Region, Qvareli district, Tivi village. 2,000 in Georgia (2002 census). Status: 6b (Threatened). Dialects: Antsukh. Classification: North Caucasian, East Caucasian, Avar-Andic, Avar

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Azerbaijani, North
[azj] 360,000 in Georgia (2007). Status: 5 (Dispersed). Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani

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Bats
[bbl] Kakheti Region, Talavei district, Zemo-Alvani (Upper Alvani). 3,420 (2000). Active users may be far fewer than 3,000 (Salminen 2007). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Bac, Batsaw, Batsba, Batsbi, Batsbiitsy, Batsi, Tsova-Tush, Tush Classification: North Caucasian, East Caucasian, Nakh, Batsi Comments: Traditional territory and way of life. Christian.

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Bezhta
[kap] Kakheti Region, Qvareli district, Chatliskure and Saruso villages. 700 in Georgia (2006). Status: 5 (Developing). Classification: North Caucasian, East Caucasian, Tsezic, East Tsezic

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Bohtan Neo-Aramaic
[bhn] Mainly Garbadani village. 1,000 in Georgia (1999 S. Fox). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern Comments: Christian.

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Dido
[ddo] Kakheti Region, Qvareli district, Ibtsokhi village. Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: North Caucasian, East Caucasian, Tsezic, West Tsezic

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Georgian
[kat] 3,900,000 in Georgia (1993 UBS). Population total all countries: 4,237,710. Ethnic population: 3,980,000 (1993 UBS). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 8). Alternate Names: Common Kartvelian, Gruzinski, Kartuli Dialects: Adzhar (Acharian), Ferejdan, Gurian, Imeretian, Imerxev Kartlian, Ingilo, Kaxetian (Kakhetian), Meskhur-Javakhuri, Moxev (Mokhev), Mtiul, Pshav, Racha-Lexchxum (Lechkhum), Tush, Xevsur (Kheysur). Imerxev is in Turkey, Ferejdan may no longer be spoken in Iran. Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian Comments: Adzhai Muslims are in Armenia. South Caucasian also called Kartvelian; Gruzinski is the Russian name. Christian, Muslim (Shi’a), Muslim (Sunni).

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Hunzib
[huz] Tkhilistsqaro, Qvareli district, Chatliskure village. 410 in Georgia (Koryakov 2006). Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: North Caucasian, East Caucasian, Tsezic, East Tsezic

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Judeo-Georgian
[jge] 20,000 in Georgia (1995). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian Comments: Oriental and Ashkenazic Jews in Georgia live separately. Judeo-Georgians live separately from non-Jewish Georgians. Jewish.

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Kurdish, Northern
[kmr] Tblisi area. 40,000 in Georgia (1991). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Kurdî, Kurmancî, Kurmanji Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish Comments: Yezidi.

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Laz
[lzz] Adjara Republic, a few villages. 1,000 in Georgia (Salminen 2007). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Chan, Chanuri, Chanzan, Laze, Zan Dialects: Atina, Chxala (Ckhala), Samurzakan-Zugdidi, Senaki, Vice-Arxava (Vital-Arkhava), Xopa (Hopa). Classification: Kartvelian, Zan Comments: Ethnic autonym: Lazuri. Muslim.

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Mingrelian
[xmf] West lowland. 500,000 (1989 B. Hewitt). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Margaluri, Megrel, Megruli Dialects: None known. Officially considered a single language with Laz [lzz] called Zan, but linguists recognize they are not inherently mutually intelligible. Classification: Kartvelian, Zan Comments: Ethnic autonym: Margaluri. Christian.

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Ossetic
[oss] South Ossetia. 100,000 in Georgia (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Osetin, Ossete, Ossetian Dialects: Digor (Digorian, Digoron, Dogor), Iron, Kudar (South Osetin). Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Northeastern Comments: Christian (Orthodox).

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Russian
[rus] 372,000 in Georgia. Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, East

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Svan
[sva] Svanetia Region, Mestiya and Lentekhi districts. 15,000 (2000 A. Kibrik). Ethnic population: 15,000 (2000 A. Kibrik). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Svanuri Dialects: Lashx, Lentex, Lower Bal, Upper Bal. Classification: Kartvelian, Svan Comments: Many Georgian [kat] speakers still claim Svan ethnicity (Salminen 2007). Christian (Lakhamul).

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Urum
[uum] Trialeti. 97,700 in Georgia (2000). Population total all countries: 192,700. Status: 6b (Threatened). Dialects: A number of inherently intelligible dialects. Classification: Altaic, Turkic Comments: Ethnic autonym: Greeks.

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