Abazgi languages

Abazgi
Abkhaz–Abaza
Geographic distribution	Caucasus
Linguistic classification	Northwest Caucasian Abazgi
Proto-language	Proto-Abkhaz-Abaza
Subdivisions	Abaza Abkhaz
Glottolog	abkh1243
Official status of the Abaza-Abkhaz language(s) in western Caucasus

Abazgi is the branch of the Northwest Caucasian languages that contains the Abaza and Abkhaz languages. "Abazgi" was once the preferred designation, but has now been replaced by "Abkhaz–Abaza".

The literary dialects of Abkhaz and Abaza are two ends of a dialect continuum. Grammatically, the two are very similar; however, the differences in phonology are substantial, and are the main reason many linguists prefer to classify them as distinct languages. Most linguists (see for instance Viacheslav Chirikba 2003) believe that Ubykh is the closest relative of the Abazgi dialect continuum.

References

Bibliography

• Wixman, Ronald. The Peoples of the USSR. p. 2
• Viacheslav Chirikba (2003) 'Abkhaz'. – Languages of the World/Materials 119. Muenchen: Lincom Europa.