Can you identify the language, and do you know where it’s spoken?
9 thoughts on “Language quiz”
Something from around the Caspian Sea?
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Is this Georgian
I’m going to say something Kartvelian because 1) it sounds similar enough to snippets of other Caucasian languages I’ve heard, and 2) I really like the word ‘Kartvelian’.
It isn’t Georgian or another Kartvelian language, but it is a Caucasian language.
I’m going to guess Tabasaran, based on a few lexemes that I could provisionally transcribe.
Glad to hear my guess on region was not off! Hmmm. Definitely hearing some ejective consonants, like most autochthonous languages of the Caucasus. Not a the Kartvelian language, given the epiglottalized/pharyngealized consonants, as well as thanks to our hint. I hear corner vowels, unlike the Northwest Caucasian languages. So, a Northeast Caucasian language like Lezgian, Lak, Tsez, Tsakhur, etc.? May not Avar since I hear a few examples of ejective [p’].
Old Nomad is right – the answer is Tabassaran (табасаран чIал) a Northeast Caucasian language spoken mainly in southern Dagestan in the Russian Federation.
Something from around the Caspian Sea?
The player doesn’t seem to work. You may want to upload the file again…
The recording should be working now.
Is this Georgian
I’m going to say something Kartvelian because 1) it sounds similar enough to snippets of other Caucasian languages I’ve heard, and 2) I really like the word ‘Kartvelian’.
It isn’t Georgian or another Kartvelian language, but it is a Caucasian language.
I’m going to guess Tabasaran, based on a few lexemes that I could provisionally transcribe.
Glad to hear my guess on region was not off! Hmmm. Definitely hearing some ejective consonants, like most autochthonous languages of the Caucasus. Not a the Kartvelian language, given the epiglottalized/pharyngealized consonants, as well as thanks to our hint. I hear corner vowels, unlike the Northwest Caucasian languages. So, a Northeast Caucasian language like Lezgian, Lak, Tsez, Tsakhur, etc.? May not Avar since I hear a few examples of ejective [p’].
Old Nomad is right – the answer is Tabassaran (табасаран чIал) a Northeast Caucasian language spoken mainly in southern Dagestan in the Russian Federation.
The recording comes from the GRN.