Russian mountains cradle hoard of ancient languages
Ancient languages
Linguistic diversity in the moutain of tongues by Stephen Boykewich - Life isn’t bad in this North Caucasus mountain town. The air is pure, the view is magnificent, and the centuries-old tradition of silver handiwork guarantees jobs for all.
There is one downside for the 2,000 residents of Kubachi, however. Their neighbors a short donkey ride down the road can’t understand a word they say.
“What we speak here, the Kubachinsky language, people in Darginsk don’t understand at all,” said Magomed Akhmedov, 35, director of the village’s silverworks factory. “That’s literally five or six kilometres away (three to four miles).”
The extraordinary linguistic diversity preserved amid these snow-capped peaks is what led a 10th-century geographer to name the Caucasus “the mountain of tongues.”
Interesting article, this area could have been the cradle of the Indo European language as well.
Tags: ancient languages, russian
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May 6, 2007at 5:37 am
Interesting - many languages on the small area, they will disappear quickly and then what about the ethnic identify ? Stop without language ? Stay like people on this area ?
May 6, 2007at 11:36 am
I think language is one part of ethnic identity. An important part, but not the whole case. Look at Ireland, were few people speak Celtic but there is a strong national identity. But on the other hand in Quebec its very important. If French goes away Quebec will be like the USA in respects that any French culture that existed, and it did exist, will be lost.