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| Proto-Circassian | |
|---|---|
| Proto-Adyghe–Kabardian | |
| Reconstruction of | Circassian languages |
Reconstructed ancestor | |
Proto-Circassian (or Proto-Adyghe–Kabardian) is the reconstructed common ancestor of theAdyghean andKabardian languages.
| A Circassian dialects family tree. |
The consonant system is reconstructed with a four-wayphonation contrast instops andaffricates, and a two-way contrast infricatives.
| Proto Circassian | Western Circassian | Eastern Circassian | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proto Western | Shapsug | Bzhedug | Chemgui | Abzakh | Proto Eastern | Besleney | Kabardian | |
| *b⟨б⟩ | *b⟨б⟩ | b⟨б⟩ | *b⟨б⟩ | b⟨б⟩ | ||||
| *p⟨п⟩ | *p⟨п⟩ | p⟨п⟩ | *b⟨б⟩ | b⟨б⟩ | ||||
| *pʰ⟨пʰ⟩ | *pʰ⟨пʰ⟩ | pʰ⟨пʰ⟩ | p⟨п⟩ | *p⟨п⟩ | p⟨п⟩ | |||
| *pʼ⟨пӏ⟩ | *pʼ⟨пӏ⟩ | pʼ⟨пӏ⟩ | *pʼ⟨пӏ⟩ | pʼ⟨пӏ⟩ | ||||
| *d⟨д⟩ | *d⟨д⟩ | d⟨д⟩ | *d⟨д⟩ | d⟨д⟩ | ||||
| *t⟨т⟩ | *t⟨т⟩ | t⟨т⟩ | *d⟨д⟩ | d⟨д⟩ | ||||
| *tʰ⟨тʰ⟩ | *tʰ⟨тʰ⟩ | tʰ⟨тʰ⟩ | t⟨т⟩ | *t⟨т⟩ | t⟨т⟩ | |||
| *tʼ⟨тӏ⟩ | *tʼ⟨тӏ⟩ | tʼ⟨тӏ⟩ | *tʼ⟨тӏ⟩ | tʼ⟨тӏ⟩ | ||||
| *ɡʲ⟨гь⟩ | *ɡʲ⟨гь⟩ | ɡʲ⟨гь⟩ | d͡ʒ⟨дж⟩ | *ɡʲ⟨гь⟩ | ɡʲ⟨гь⟩ | d͡ʒ⟨дж⟩ | ||
| *kʲ⟨кь⟩ | *kʲ⟨кь⟩ | kʲ⟨кь⟩ | t͡ʃ⟨ч⟩ | *ɡʲ⟨гь⟩ | ɡʲ⟨гь⟩ | d͡ʒ⟨дж⟩ | ||
| *kʲʰ⟨кʰь⟩ | *kʲʰ⟨кʰь⟩ | kʲʰ⟨кʰь⟩ | t͡ʃʰ⟨чʰ⟩ | t͡ʃ⟨ч⟩ | *kʲ⟨кь⟩ | kʲ⟨кь⟩ | t͡ʃ⟨ч⟩ | |
| *kʲʼ⟨кӏь⟩ | *kʲʼ⟨кӏь⟩ | kʲʼ⟨кӏь⟩ | t͡ʃʼ⟨кӏ⟩ | *kʲʼ⟨кӏь⟩ | kʲʼ⟨кӏь⟩ | t͡ʃʼ⟨кӏ⟩ | ||
| *ɡʷ⟨гу⟩ | *ɡʷ⟨гу⟩ | ɡʷ⟨гу⟩ | *ɡʷ⟨гу⟩ | ɡʷ⟨гу⟩ | ||||
| *kʷ⟨ку⟩ | *kʷ⟨ку⟩ | kʷ⟨ку⟩ | *ɡʷ⟨гу⟩ | ɡʷ⟨гу⟩ | ||||
| *kʷʰ⟨кʰу⟩ | *kʷʰ⟨кʰу⟩ | kʷʰ⟨кʰу⟩ | kʷ⟨ку⟩ | *kʷ⟨ку⟩ | kʷ⟨ку⟩ | |||
| *kʷʼ⟨кӏу⟩ | *kʷʼ⟨кӏу⟩ | kʷʼ⟨кӏу⟩ | *kʷʼ⟨кӏу⟩ | kʷʼ⟨кӏу⟩ | ||||
| *q⟨къ⟩ | *q⟨къ⟩ | q⟨къ⟩ | *q⟨къ⟩ | q⟨къ⟩ | ||||
| *qʰ⟨кʰъ⟩ | *qʰ⟨кʰъ⟩ | qʰ⟨кʰъ⟩ | q⟨къ⟩ | *q͡χ⟨кхъ⟩ | q͡χ⟨кхъ⟩ | |||
| *qʷ⟨къу⟩ | *qʷ⟨къу⟩ | qʷ⟨къу⟩ | *qʷ⟨къу⟩ | qʷ⟨къу⟩ | ||||
| *qʷʰ⟨кʰъу⟩ | *qʷʰ⟨кʰъу⟩ | qʷʰ⟨кʰъу⟩ | qʷ⟨къу⟩ | *q͡χʷ⟨кхъу⟩ | q͡χʷ⟨кхъу⟩ | |||
| *d͡z⟨дз⟩ | *d͡z⟨дз⟩ | d͡z⟨дз⟩ | *d͡z⟨дз⟩ | d͡z⟨дз⟩ | ||||
| *t͡s⟨ц⟩ | *t͡s⟨ц⟩ | t͡s⟨ц⟩ | *d͡z⟨дз⟩ | d͡z⟨дз⟩ | ||||
| *t͡sʰ⟨цʰ⟩ | *t͡sʰ⟨цʰ⟩ | t͡sʰ⟨цʰ⟩ | t͡s⟨ц⟩ | *t͡s⟨ц⟩ | t͡s⟨ц⟩ | |||
| *t͡sʼ⟨цӏ⟩ | *t͡sʼ⟨цӏ⟩ | t͡sʼ /sʼ⟨цӏ / сӏ⟩ | t͡sʼ⟨цӏ⟩ | *t͡sʼ⟨цӏ⟩ | t͡sʼ⟨цӏ⟩ | |||
| *d͡ʑʷ⟨джъу⟩ | *d͡ʑʷ⟨джъу⟩ | ʑʷ⟨жьу⟩ | ʒʷ⟨жъу⟩ | d͡zʷ⟨дзу⟩ | ʒʷ⟨жъу⟩ | *v⟨в⟩ | v⟨в⟩ | |
| *t͡ɕʷ⟨чъу⟩ | *t͡ɕʷ⟨чъу⟩ | t͡ɕʷ⟨чъу⟩ | t͡sʷ⟨цу⟩ | t͡ɕʷ⟨чъу⟩ | *v⟨в⟩ | v⟨в⟩ | ||
| *t͡ɕʷʰ⟨чъʰу⟩ | *t͡ɕʷʰ⟨чъʰу⟩ | t͡ɕʷʰ⟨чъʰу⟩ | t͡sʷ⟨цу⟩ | t͡ɕʷ⟨чъу⟩ | *f⟨ф⟩ | f⟨ф⟩ | ||
| *d͡ʒ⟨дж⟩ | *d͡ʒ⟨дж⟩ | d͡ʒ⟨дж⟩ | ʒ⟨ж⟩ | *d͡ʒ⟨дж⟩ | d͡ʒ⟨дж⟩ | ʒ⟨ж⟩ | ||
| *t͡ʃ⟨ч⟩ | *t͡ʃ⟨ч⟩ | t͡ʃ⟨ч⟩ | ʃ⟨ш⟩ | *d͡ʒ⟨дж⟩ | d͡ʒ⟨дж⟩ | ʒ⟨ж⟩ | ||
| *t͡ʂ⟨чъ⟩ | *t͡ʂ⟨чъ⟩ | t͡ʃ⟨ч⟩ | t͡ʂ⟨чъ⟩ | ʂ⟨шъ⟩ | *d͡ʐ⟨джъ⟩ | d͡ʐ⟨джъ⟩ | ʒ⟨ж⟩ | |
| *t͡ʃʰ⟨чʰ⟩ | *ʃʰ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃʰ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ⟨ш⟩ | *t͡ʃ⟨ч⟩ | t͡ʃ⟨ч⟩ | ʃ⟨ш⟩ | ||
| *t͡ʂʰ⟨чʰъ⟩ | *ʃʰ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃʰ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ⟨ш⟩ | *t͡ʂ⟨чъ⟩ | t͡ʂ⟨чъ⟩ | ʃ⟨ш⟩ | ||
| *t͡ʃʼ⟨кӏ⟩ | *t͡ʃʼ⟨кӏ⟩ | t͡ʃʼ⟨кӏ⟩ | ɕʼ /ʔʲ⟨щӏ / ӏ⟩ | *t͡ʃʼ⟨кӏ⟩ | t͡ʃʼ⟨кӏ⟩ | ɕʼ⟨щӏ⟩ | ||
| *t͡ʂʼ⟨чӏ⟩ | *t͡ʂʼ⟨чӏ⟩ | t͡ʃʼ⟨кӏ⟩ | t͡ʂʼ⟨чӏ⟩ | ɕʼ /ʔʲ⟨щӏ / ӏ⟩ | *t͡ʂʼ⟨чӏ⟩ | t͡ʂʼ⟨чӏ⟩ | ɕʼ⟨щӏ⟩ | |
| *z⟨з⟩ | *z⟨з⟩ | z⟨з⟩ | *z⟨з⟩ | z⟨з⟩ | ||||
| *s⟨с⟩ | *s⟨с⟩ | s⟨с⟩ | *s⟨с⟩ | s⟨с⟩ | ||||
| *ʑ⟨жь⟩ | *ʑ⟨жь⟩ | ʒ⟨ж⟩ | ʑ⟨жь⟩ | *ʑ⟨жь⟩ | ʑ⟨жь⟩ | |||
| *ɕ⟨щ⟩ | *ɕ⟨щ⟩ | ʃ⟨ш⟩ | ɕ⟨щ⟩ | *ɕ⟨щ⟩ | ɕ⟨щ⟩ | |||
| *ɕʼ⟨шӏ⟩ | *ʃʼ⟨шӏ⟩ | ʃʼ⟨шӏ⟩ | *ɕʼ⟨щӏ⟩ | ɕʼ⟨щӏ⟩ | ||||
| *ʑʷ⟨жъу⟩ | *ʑʷ⟨жъу⟩ | ʑʷ⟨жьу⟩ | ʐʷ⟨жъу⟩ | *v⟨в⟩ | v⟨в⟩ | |||
| *ɕʷ⟨шъу⟩ | *ɕʷ⟨шъу⟩ | ɕʷ⟨щу⟩ | ʂʷ⟨шъу⟩ | *f⟨ф⟩ | f⟨ф⟩ | |||
| *ɕʷʼ⟨шӏу⟩ | *ʃʷʼ⟨шӏу⟩ | ʃʷʼ⟨шӏу⟩ | *fʼ⟨фӏ⟩ | fʼ⟨фӏ⟩ | ||||
| *ʒ⟨ж⟩ | *ʒ⟨ж⟩ | ʒ⟨ж⟩ | *ʒ⟨ж⟩ | ʒ⟨ж⟩ | ʑ⟨жь⟩ | |||
| *ʐ⟨жъ⟩ | *ʐ⟨жъ⟩ | ʐ⟨жъ⟩ | *ʐ⟨жъ⟩ | ʐ⟨жъ⟩ | ʑ⟨жь⟩ | |||
| *ʃ⟨ш⟩ | *ʃ⟨ш⟩ | ʃ⟨ш⟩ | *ʃ⟨ш⟩ | ʃ⟨ш⟩ | ɕ⟨щ⟩ | |||
| *ʂ⟨шъ⟩ | *ʂ⟨шъ⟩ | ʂ⟨шъ⟩ | *ʂ⟨шъ⟩ | ʂ⟨шъ⟩ | ɕ⟨щ⟩ | |||
| *ʃʰ⟨шʰ⟩ | *ʃʰ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃʰ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ⟨ш⟩ | *ʃ⟨ш⟩ | ʃ⟨ш⟩ | ɕ⟨щ⟩ | ||
| *ʂʰ⟨шʰъ⟩ | *ʃʰ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃʰ⟨шʰ⟩ | ʃ⟨ш⟩ | *ʂ⟨шъ⟩ | ʂ⟨шъ⟩ | ɕ⟨щ⟩ | ||
| *ɮ⟨л⟩ | *ɮ⟨л⟩ | ɮ⟨л⟩ | *ɮ⟨л⟩ | ɮ⟨л⟩ | ||||
| *ɬ⟨лъ⟩ | *ɬ⟨лъ⟩ | ɬ⟨лъ⟩ | *ɬ⟨лъ⟩ | ɬ⟨лъ⟩ | ||||
| *ɬʼ⟨лӏ⟩ | *ɬʼ⟨лӏ⟩ | ɬʼ⟨лӏ⟩ | *ɬʼ⟨лӏ⟩ | t͡ɬʼ⟨тлӏ⟩ | ɬʼ⟨лӏ⟩ | |||
| *ɣ⟨г⟩ | *ɣ⟨г⟩ | ɣ⟨г⟩ | *ɣ⟨г⟩ | ɣ⟨г⟩ | ||||
| *x⟨х⟩ | *x⟨х⟩ | x⟨х⟩ | *x⟨х⟩ | x⟨х⟩ | ||||
| *xʷ⟨ху⟩ | *f⟨ф⟩ | f⟨ф⟩ | *xʷ⟨ху⟩ | xʷ⟨ху⟩ | ||||
| *ʁ⟨гъ⟩ | *ʁ⟨гъ⟩ | ʁ⟨гъ⟩ | *ʁ⟨гъ⟩ | ʁ⟨гъ⟩ | ||||
| *ʁʷ⟨гъу⟩ | *ʁʷ⟨гъу⟩ | ʁʷ⟨гъу⟩ | *ʁʷ⟨гъу⟩ | ʁʷ⟨гъу⟩ | ||||
| *χ⟨хъ⟩ | *χ⟨хъ⟩ | χ⟨хъ⟩ | *χ⟨хъ⟩ | χ⟨хъ⟩ | ||||
| *χʷ⟨хъу⟩ | *χʷ⟨хъу⟩ | χʷ⟨хъу⟩ | *χʷ⟨хъу⟩ | χʷ⟨хъу⟩ | ||||
| *ħ⟨хь⟩ | *ħ⟨хь⟩ | ħ⟨хь⟩ | *ħ⟨хь⟩ | ħ⟨хь⟩ | ||||
| *m⟨м⟩ | *m⟨м⟩ | m⟨м⟩ | *m⟨м⟩ | m⟨м⟩ | ||||
| *n⟨н⟩ | *n⟨н⟩ | n⟨н⟩ | *n⟨н⟩ | n⟨н⟩ | ||||
| *r⟨р⟩ | *r⟨р⟩ | r⟨р⟩ | *r⟨р⟩ | r⟨р⟩ | ||||
| *w⟨у⟩ | *w⟨у⟩ | w⟨у⟩ | *w⟨у⟩ | w⟨у⟩ | ||||
| *j⟨й⟩ | *j⟨й⟩ | j⟨й⟩ | *j⟨й⟩ | j⟨й⟩ | ||||
| *ʔ⟨ӏ⟩ | *ʔ⟨ӏ⟩ | ʔ⟨ӏ⟩ | *ʔ⟨ӏ⟩ | ʔ⟨ӏ⟩ | ||||
| *ʔʷ⟨ӏу⟩ | *ʔʷ⟨ӏу⟩ | ʔʷ⟨ӏу⟩ | *ʔʷ⟨ӏу⟩ | ʔʷ⟨ӏу⟩ | ||||
In the Proto-Circassian there was a series ofaspirated consonants that survived in the Shapsug and Bzhedugh dialect while they became plain consonants in the other dialects.
| Word | Proto Circassian | Shapsug Bzhedug | Abzakh Chemgui | Kabardian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| noise | pʰa⟨пʰэ⟩ | pʰa⟨пʰэ⟩ | pa⟨пэ⟩ | pa⟨пэ⟩ |
| sharp | pʰaːɣa⟨пʰагэ⟩ | pʰaːɣa⟨пʰагэ⟩ | paːɣa⟨пагэ⟩ | paːɣa⟨пагэ⟩ |
| pillow | ʂħaːntʰa⟨шъхьантʰэ⟩ | ʂħaːtʰa⟨шъхьатʰэ⟩ | ʂħaːnta⟨шъхьантэ⟩ | ɕħaːnta⟨щхьантэ⟩ |
| wool | t͡sʰə⟨цʰы⟩ | t͡sʰə⟨цʰы⟩ | t͡sə⟨цы⟩ | t͡sə⟨цы⟩ |
| brother | t͡ʃʰə⟨чʰы⟩ | ʃʰə⟨шʰы⟩ | ʃə⟨шы⟩ | qʷaʃ⟨къуэш⟩ |
| lame | ɬaːʃʰa⟨лъашʰэ⟩ | ɬaːʃʰa⟨лъашʰэ⟩ | ɬaːʃa⟨лъашэ⟩ | ɬaːʃa⟨лъашэ⟩ |
| thigh | kʷʰa⟨кʰо⟩ | kʷʰa⟨кʰо⟩ | kʷa⟨ко⟩ | kʷa⟨куэ⟩ |
| grave | qʰa⟨кʰъэ⟩ | qʰa⟨кʰъэ⟩ | qa⟨къэ⟩ | q͡χa⟨кхъэ⟩ |
| pig | qʷʰa⟨кʰъо⟩ | qʷʰa⟨кʰъо⟩ | qʷa⟨къо⟩ | q͡χʷa⟨кхъуэ⟩ |
In the Proto-Circassian there was a series oftense consonants that became voiced in the eastern dialects.
| Word | Proto Circassian | Bzhedug Chemgui | Baslaney | Kabardian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| we | ta⟨тэ⟩ | ta⟨тэ⟩ | da⟨дэ⟩ | da⟨дэ⟩ |
| leader | tħamaːta⟨тхьэматэ⟩ | tħamaːta⟨тхьэматэ⟩ | tħamaːda⟨тхьэмадэ⟩ | tħamaːda⟨тхьэмадэ⟩ |
| fish | pt͡saʐəja⟨пцэжъые⟩ | pt͡saʐəja⟨пцэжъые⟩ | bd͡zaʐej⟨бдзэжъей⟩ | bd͡zaʑej⟨бдзэжьей⟩ |
| glass | aːpkʲ⟨апкь⟩ | aːpt͡ʃ⟨апч⟩ | ʔaːbɡʲ⟨абгь⟩ | ʔaːbd͡ʒ⟨абдж⟩ |
| chicken | kʲat⟨кьэт⟩ | t͡ʃatə⟨чэты⟩ | ɡʲad⟨гьэд⟩ | d͡ʒad⟨джэд⟩ |
| night | t͡ʃaɕ⟨чэщ⟩ | t͡ʃaɕə⟨чэщы⟩ | d͡ʒaɕ⟨джэщ⟩ | ʒaɕ⟨жэщ⟩ |
| village | t͡ʃəɮa⟨чылэ⟩ | t͡ʃəɮa⟨чылэ⟩ | d͡ʒəɮa⟨джылэ⟩ | ʒəɮa⟨жылэ⟩ |
| cow | t͡ʃam⟨чэм⟩ | t͡ʃamə⟨чэмы⟩ | d͡ʒam⟨джэм⟩ | ʒam⟨жэм⟩ |
| tree | t͡ʂəɣ⟨чъыг⟩ | t͡ʂəɣə⟨чъыгы⟩ | d͡ʐəɣ⟨джъыг⟩ | ʒəɣ⟨жыг⟩ |
| mouse | t͡səʁʷa⟨цыгъо⟩ | t͡səʁʷa⟨цыгъо⟩ | d͡zəʁʷa⟨дзыгъуэ⟩ | d͡zəʁʷa⟨дзыгъуэ⟩ |
| short | kʲʼaːkʷa⟨кӏьако⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːkʷa⟨кӏако⟩ | kʲʼaːɡʷa⟨кӏьагуэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːɡʷa⟨кӏагуэ⟩ |
| wheat | kʷat͡s⟨коц⟩ | kʷat͡sə⟨коцы⟩ | ɡʷad͡z⟨гуэдз⟩ | ɡʷad͡z⟨гуэдз⟩ |
In the Proto-Circassian language there exist a palatalizedvoiced velar stop[ɡʲ]⟨гь⟩, a palatalized aspiratedvoiceless velar stop[kʲʰ], a palatalizedvoiceless velar stop[kʲ]⟨кь⟩ and a palatalizedvelar ejective[kʲʼ]⟨кӏь⟩. The consonants гь[ɡʲ], кь[kʲ] and кӏь[kʲʼ] survive in theShapsug dialect, in theBesleney dialect and in the Kabardian Uzunyayla dialect.[1] In other Circassian dialects they were merged with thepalato-alveolar consonants дж[d͡ʒ], ч[t͡ʃ] and кӏ[t͡ʃʼ] respectively.[2][3][4]
| Word | Proto Circassian | Shapsug | Bzhedug Chemgui Abzakh | Baslaney | Kabardian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to cough | pskʲʰan⟨пскʰьэн⟩ | pskʲʰan⟨пскʰьэн⟩ | pst͡ʃan⟨псчэн⟩ | pskʲan⟨пскьэн⟩ | pst͡ʃan⟨псчэн⟩ |
| game | ɡʲaɡʷ⟨гьэгу⟩ | ɡʲaɡʷ⟨гьэгу⟩ | d͡ʒaɡʷ⟨джэгу⟩ | ɡʲaɡʷ⟨гьэгу⟩ | d͡ʒaɡʷ⟨джэгу⟩ |
| shirt | ɡʲaːna⟨гьанэ⟩ | ɡʲaːna⟨гьанэ⟩ | d͡ʒːna⟨джанэ⟩ | ɡʲaːna⟨гьанэ⟩ | d͡ʒːna⟨джанэ⟩ |
| glass | aːpkʲ⟨апкь⟩ | aːpkʲ⟨апкь⟩ | aːpt͡ʃ⟨апч⟩ | ʔaːbɡʲ⟨абгь⟩ | ʔaːbd͡ʒ⟨абдж⟩ |
| chicken | kʲat⟨кьэт⟩ | kʲat⟨кьэт⟩ | t͡ʃatə⟨чэты⟩ | ɡʲad⟨гьэд⟩ | d͡ʒad⟨джэд⟩ |
| short | kʲʼaːkʷa⟨кӏьако⟩ | kʲʼaːkʷa⟨кӏьако⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːkʷa⟨кӏако⟩ | kʲʼaːɡʷa⟨кӏьагуэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːɡʷa⟨кӏагуэ⟩ |
| rope | kʲʼaːpsa⟨кӏьапсэ⟩ | kʲʼaːpsa⟨кӏьапсэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːpsa⟨кӏапсэ⟩ | kʲʼaːpsa⟨кӏьапсэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːpsa⟨кӏапсэ⟩ |
Historically, Proto-Circassian had 6 distinct consonants:
Then, in the Abzakh and Kabardian dialects, the affricatepostalveolar consonants became fricative:
For example:
But words like кӏьапсэ "rope", кӏьакуэ "short" & кӏьэ "tail" were still pronounced withkʲʼ.
Later on, in the majority of Circassian dialects (both Adyghe and Kabardian dialects), the velar consonants гь[ɡʲ], кь[kʲ] and кӏь[kʲʼ] becamepalato-alveolar consonants дж[d͡ʒ], ч[t͡ʃ] and кӏ[t͡ʃʼ] respectively. Now words like кӏапсэ "rope", кӏакуэ "short" & кӏэ "tail" were pronounced witht͡ʃʼ.
For example, in the following table, you can see how the words "new" & "tail" are distinct in all dialects except Bzhedug & Chemgui.
| Word | Proto Circassian | Shapsug | Bzhedug Chemgui | Abzakh | Baslaney | Standard Kabardian | Some Kabardian dialects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tail | kʲʼa⟨кӏьэ⟩ | kʲʼa⟨кӏьэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼa⟨кӏэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼa⟨кӏэ⟩ | kʲʼa⟨кӏьэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼa⟨кӏэ⟩ | kʲʼa⟨кӏьэ⟩ |
| new | t͡ʃʼa⟨кӏэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼa⟨кӏэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼa⟨кӏэ⟩ | ʃʼa⟨щӏэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼa⟨кӏьэ⟩ | ʃʼa⟨щӏэ⟩ | ʃʼa⟨щӏэ⟩ |
| winter | t͡ʃʼəmaːxʷa⟨кӏымахуэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼəmaːfa⟨кӏымафэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼəmaːfa⟨кӏымафэ⟩ | ʃʼəmaːfa⟨щӏымафэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼəmaːxʷa⟨кӏымахуэ⟩ | ʃʼəmaːxʷa⟨щӏымахуэ⟩ | ʃʼəmaːxʷa⟨щӏымахуэ⟩ |
| mustache | paːt͡ʃʼa⟨пакӏэ⟩ | paːt͡ʃʼa⟨пакӏэ⟩ | paːt͡ʃʼa⟨пакӏэ⟩ | paːʃʼa⟨пащӏэ⟩ | paːt͡ʃʼa⟨пакӏэ⟩ | paːʃʼa⟨пащӏэ⟩ | paːʃʼa⟨пащӏэ⟩ |
The way the affricatepostalveolar consonants became fricative in the Abzakh and the Kabardian dialects:
| Word | Proto Circassian | Bzhedug Chemgui | Abzakh | Baslaney | Kabardian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fox | baːd͡ʒa⟨баджэ⟩ | baːd͡ʒa⟨баджэ⟩ | baːʒa⟨бажэ⟩ | baːd͡ʒa⟨баджэ⟩ | baːʒa⟨бажэ⟩ |
| village | qʷaːd͡ʒa⟨къуаджэ⟩ | qʷaːd͡ʒa⟨къуаджэ⟩ | qʷaːʒa⟨къуажэ⟩ | qʷaːd͡ʒa⟨къуаджэ⟩ | qʷaːʒa⟨къуажэ⟩ |
| village | t͡ʃəɮa⟨чылэ⟩ | t͡ʃəɮa⟨чылэ⟩ | ʃəɮa⟨шылэ⟩ | d͡ʒəɮa⟨джылэ⟩ | ʒəɮa⟨жылэ⟩ |
| night | t͡ʃaɕ⟨чэщ⟩ | t͡ʃaɕə⟨чэщы⟩ | ʃaɕə⟨шэщы⟩ | d͡ʒaɕ⟨джэщ⟩ | ʒaɕ⟨жэщ⟩ |
| cow | t͡ʃam⟨чэм⟩ | t͡ʃamə⟨чэмы⟩ | ʃamə⟨шэмы⟩ | d͡ʒam⟨джэм⟩ | ʒam⟨жэм⟩ |
| new | t͡ʃʼa⟨кӏэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼa⟨кӏэ⟩ | ʃʼa⟨шӏэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼa⟨кӏэ⟩ | ɕʼa⟨щӏэ⟩ |
| winter | t͡ʃʼəmaːxʷa⟨кӏымахо⟩ | t͡ʃʼəmaːfa⟨кӏымафэ⟩ | ʃʼəmaːfa⟨шӏымафэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼəmaːxʷa⟨кӏымахуэ⟩ | ɕʼəmaːxʷa⟨щӏымахуэ⟩ |
| young-man | t͡ʃʼaːɮa⟨кӏалэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːɮa⟨кӏалэ⟩ | ʔʲaːɮa⟨ӏалэ⟩ | t͡ʃʼaːɮa⟨кӏалэ⟩ | ɕʼaːɮa⟨щӏалэ⟩ |
| to sleep | t͡ʂəjan⟨чъыен⟩ | t͡ʂəjan⟨чъыен⟩ | ʂəjan⟨шъыен⟩ | d͡ʐajən⟨джъеин⟩ | ʒajən⟨жеин⟩ |
| tree | t͡ʂəɣ⟨чъыг⟩ | t͡ʂəɣə⟨чъыгы⟩ | ʂəɣə⟨шъыгы⟩ | d͡ʐəɣ⟨джъыг⟩ | ʒəɣ⟨жыг⟩ |
| to run | t͡ʂan⟨чъэн⟩ | t͡ʂan⟨чъэн⟩ | tʂan⟨шъэн⟩ | d͡ʐan⟨джъэн⟩ | ʒan⟨жэн⟩ |
| area | t͡ʂʼəpʼa⟨чӏыпӏэ⟩ | t͡ʂʼəpʼa⟨чӏыпӏэ⟩ | ʃʼəpʼa⟨шӏыпӏэ⟩ | t͡ʂʼəpʼa⟨чӏыпӏэ⟩ | ɕʼəpʼa⟨щӏыпӏэ⟩ |
| iron | ʁʷət͡ʂʼə⟨гъучӏы⟩ | ʁʷət͡ʂʼə⟨гъучӏы⟩ | ʃʼəpʼa⟨гъушӏы⟩ | ʁʷət͡ʂʼə⟨гъучӏы⟩ | ɕʼəpʼa⟨гъущӏы⟩ |
Proto-Circassian had no labiodental fricatives:voiceless labiodental fricative [f] andvoiced labiodental fricative [v]. Western Circassian received the labiodental fricatives from one source while Eastern Circassian received from another.
In Western:
In Eastern:
Proto-Circassian had a labializedvoiceless velar fricative [xʷ] which survived in the eastern dialects while it became avoiceless labiodental fricative [f] in the western dialects.
| Word | Proto Circassian | Western | Eastern |
|---|---|---|---|
| human | t͡sʼəxʷ⟨цӏыху⟩ | t͡sʼəf⟨цӏыф⟩ | t͡sʼəxʷ⟨цӏыху⟩ |
| white | xʷəʑ⟨хужь⟩ | fəʑə⟨фыжьы⟩ | xʷəʑ⟨хужь⟩ |
| hot | xʷaːba⟨хуабэ⟩ | faːba⟨фабэ⟩ | xʷaːba⟨хуабэ⟩ |
| day | maːxʷa⟨махо⟩ | maːfa⟨мафэ⟩ | maːxʷa⟨махуэ⟩ |
Proto-Circassian had a series of labializedpostalveolar consonants (t͡ɕʷ, ʑʷ, ɕʷ and ɕʷʼ). These consonants survived in the western dialects while they became labiodental consonants in the eastern dialects.
| Word | Proto Circassian | Western | Eastern |
|---|---|---|---|
| ox | t͡ɕʷə⟨цу⟩ | t͡ɕʷə⟨цу⟩ | və⟨вы⟩ |
| shoe | t͡ɕʷaːqa⟨цуакъэ⟩ | t͡ɕʷaːqa⟨цуакъэ⟩ | vaːqa⟨вакъэ⟩ |
| star | ʑʷaːʁʷa⟨жъуагъо⟩ | ʑʷaːʁʷa⟨жъуагъо⟩ | vaːʁʷa⟨вагъуэ⟩ |
| stone | məʑʷa⟨мыжъо⟩ | məʑʷa⟨мыжъо⟩ | məva⟨мывэ⟩ |
| narrow | zaʑʷə⟨зэжъу⟩ | zaʑʷə⟨зэжъу⟩ | zavə⟨зэвы⟩ |
| you (pl.) | ɕʷa⟨шъо⟩ | ɕʷa⟨шъо⟩ | fa⟨фэ⟩ |
| honey | ɕʷaw⟨шъоу⟩ | ɕʷaw⟨шъоу⟩ | faw⟨фо⟩ |
| wife | ɕʷəz⟨шъуз⟩ | ɕʷəz⟨шъуз⟩ | fəz⟨фыз⟩ |
| black | ɕʷʼət͡sʼa⟨шӏуцӏэ⟩ | ɕʷʼət͡sʼa⟨шӏуцӏэ⟩ | fʼət͡sʼa⟨фӏыцӏэ⟩ |
| fire | maːɕʷʼa⟨машӏо⟩ | maːɕʷʼa⟨машӏо⟩ | maːfʼa⟨мафӏэ⟩ |
| dirty | ɕʷʼajə⟨шӏои⟩ | ɕʷʼajə⟨шӏои⟩ | fʼaj⟨фӏей⟩ |
| English | Proto-Circassian | Ubykh | Western Circassian | Kabardian | Baslaney | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | IPA | Cyrillic | |
| One | zə | зы | za | зэ | zə | зы | zə | зы | zə | зы |
| Two | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʼqʷʼa | ткъӏуа | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʷʼə | тӏу | tʼəw | тӏу |
| Three | ɕə | щы | ʂa | шъа | ɕə | щы | ɕə | щы | ɕə | щы |
| Four | pt͡ɬʼə | птлӏы | pʼɬʼə | плӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pɬʼə | плӏы | pt͡ɬʼə | птлӏы |
| Five | txʷə | тху | ɕxə | щхы | tfə | тфы | txʷə | тху | txʷə | тху |
| Six | xə | хы | fə | фы | xə | хы | xə | хы | xə | хы |
| Seven | bɮə | блы | blə | бльы | bɮə | блы | bɮə | блы | bɮə | блы |
| Eight | jə | и | ʁʷa | гъуа | jə | и | jə | и | jə | и |
| Nine | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʲə | бгъьу | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʷə | бгъу | bʁʷə | бгъу |
| Ten | pʃʼə | пшӏы | ʑʷə | жъуы | pʃʼə | пшӏы | pɕʼə | пщӏы | pʃʼə | пшӏы |
Schleicher's fable in Proto-Circassian:
χʷǝ č́ʷara-gjǝ
χʷǝ ja laśʷam mә q́ˤ:an
č́ʷara pǝʎ́an;
mǝ χwanǝta k:ʷǝm q:irǝ,
mǝ čʷǝχʷa čʷam,
mǝ ć̣ǝm pasa mǝš́ʷrǝ.
χʷǝ č́ʷara q̇́ˤan:
"źǝʁʷǝ sā ǵʷǝ,
q:ać̣am ć̣arǝ č́ʷara ḳ́ʷarǝ."
č́ʷara q̇́ˤan: "q:́ˤʷa χʷǝ!
źǝʁʷǝ š́a ǵʷǝ ć̣arǝ,
q:ać̣a, ł́a, č́ʷara laśʷam
ʎ́ʷa ḳ́ač̣ʷǝm čǝ-wǝ,
χʷiara-gjǝ laśʷam mә q́ˤ:a."
nǝ q:́aˤʷasa χʷǝ rǝq:ʷada q:ˤʷan.
