A North West Caucasian linguistic reader

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This Reader in North West Caucasian languages compiles grammatical sketches and examples from this unique language family, including three dialects of Circassian, three of Abkhaz-Abaza, and Ubykh. It features traditional tales, including two pagan hymns, all phonemicized (with an additional consonant for Ubykh), morphologically analyzed, glossed, and translated. This volume serves those interested in preserving or reviving these endangered languages. Theoretical linguists will find it intriguing due to the numerous unusual features present. These languages are known for their extensive consonantal inventories and vertical vowel systems. They also utilize polypersonal verbs that convey argument structure alongside pragmatic, syntactic, referential, and spatial information. The languages exhibit split ergativity, with Abkhaz-Abaza showing morphological ergativity due to the absence of case systems, and they demonstrate rightward wh-movement. Circassian features rightward clefting, including clefted questions, while all languages include headless relative constructions. Abkhaz-Abaza showcases verb cliticization and verb chaining. The vocabulary, especially core items, often arises from extensive compounding processes, making this a rich area for linguistic study. ISBN 9783862886623. LINCOM Studies in Caucasian Linguistics 21. 292pp. 2015.