| Kaitag | |
|---|---|
| хайдакьан кув | |
| Pronunciation | χɑjdɑqʼɑn kʰuβ |
| Native to | North Caucasus |
| Region | Dagestan |
| Ethnicity | Kaitags |
Native speakers | approx. 30,000 (2020)[1] |
Northeast Caucasian
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | xdq |
| Glottolog | kajt1238 |
Kaitag (self des. Хайдакьан кув [χɑjdɑqʼɑn kʰuβ]; oth. des. Kaidak, Karakaitak, Karkaidak, Qaidaqlan) is a Northeast Caucasian language spoken in Dagestan, Russia. It has sometimes been considered a divergent dialect of Dargwa due to it being part of the Dargin dialect continuum. The Routledge Ethnographic Handbook (2017) divided Kaitag into two dialects: northern (Magalis-Kaitak) and southern (Karakaitak).[2] Recent results of the Association of the Russian Sociolinguists (2021) further developed it into three dialects: Lower Kaitag, Upper Kaitag and Shari.[3]
Dialects
The languages consists of eight varieties, forming three dialects. Each of the Upper varieties corresponds to a historical province of the region.[4]
- Upper Kaitag – Хъар Хайдакь (south-west).
- Shurkkant – "The Cliff Dwellers" – Шурккант.
- Qattagan – "The Gorge Dwellers" – Къаттагне.
- Irchamul – "The Land of Nine" – Ирчӏамул.
- Lower Kaitag – Ххьар Хайдакь.
- Barshamai – Баршамаӏъган.
- Karatsan – Гъаӏрцӏнила.
- Jibahni – Чӏивгьаӏн.
- Sanchi – Сунклан.
- Shari – Шаӏръи.
Phonology
Vowels
| Front | Back | |
|---|---|---|
| close | u | |
| near-close | ɪ | |
| open-mid | ɛ | |
| near-open | æ | |
| open | ɑ |
Consonants
Consonants form by series of voiced, aspirated, fortis, ejective, and labialized variants. The palatal fricative [ç] might be the voiceless post-palatal fricative, which can be more precisely transcribed as [ç̠] or [x̟].[5]
| Bilabial | Dental | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Uvular | Glottal | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| plain | labialized | plain | labialized | plain | labialized | plain | labialized | plain | labialized | ||||
| Nasal | m | n | |||||||||||
| Plosive | voiced | b | d | g | gʷ | ʔ | |||||||
| aspirated | pʰ | tʰ | kʰ | kʰʷ | qʰ | qʰʷ | |||||||
| fortis | pː | tː | kː | kːʷ | qː | qːʷ | |||||||
| ejective | pʼ | tʼ | kʼ | kʼʷ | qʼ | qʼʷ | |||||||
| Affricate | aspirated | t͡sʰ | t͡ʃʰ | t͡ʃʰʷ | |||||||||
| fortis | t͡sː | t͡ʃː | t͡ʃːʷ | ||||||||||
| ejective | t͡sʼ | t͡ʃʼ | t͡ʃʼʷ | ||||||||||
| Fricative | voiced | β | z | ʒ | ʒʷ | ʁ | ʁʷ | ||||||
| plain | s | ʃ | ʃʷ | ç | çʷ | χ | χʷ | h | hʷ | ||||
| fortis | sː | ʃː | ʃːʷ | çː | çːʷ | χː | χːʷ | ||||||
| Trill | r | ||||||||||||
| Approximant | l | j | |||||||||||
Alphabet
The Kaitag language is usually written in the Cyrillic script. The letters of the alphabet are (with their pronunciation given below in IPA transcription):
| а
[ɑ~a] |
аӏ
[æ] |
б
[b] |
в
[β] |
г
[g] |
гв
[gʷ] |
гъ
[ʁ] |
гъв
[ʁʷ] |
гь
[h] |
гьв
[hʷ] |
д
[d] |
е
[ɛ~e] |
ж
[ʒ] |
жв
[ʒʷ] |
з
[z] |
и
[ɪ~i] |
й
[j] |
| к
[kʰ] |
кв
[kʰʷ] |
кк
[kː] |
ккв
[kːʷ] |
кӏ
[kʼ] |
кӏв
[kʼʷ] |
хъ
[qʰ] |
хъв
[qʰʷ] |
къ
[qː] |
къв
[qːʷ] |
кь
[qʼ] |
кь
[qʼʷ] |
л
[l] |
м
[m] |
н
[n] |
п
[pʰ] |
пп
[pː] |
| пӏ
[pʼ] |
с
[s] |
сс
[sː] |
т
[tʰ] |
тт
[tː] |
тӏ
[tʼ] |
у
[u] |
х
[χ] |
хв
[χʷ] |
хх
[χː] |
ххв
[χːʷ] |
хь
[ç] |
хьв
[çʷ] |
ххь
[çː] |
ххьв
[çːʷ] |
ц
[t͡sʰ] |
цц
[t͡sː] |
| цӏ
[t͡sʼ] |
ч
[t͡ʃʰ] |
чв
[t͡ʃʰʷ] |
чч
[t͡ʃː] |
ччв
[t͡ʃːʷ] |
чӏ
[t͡ʃʼ] |
чӏв
[t͡ʃʼʷ] |
ш
[ʃ] |
шв
[ʃʷ] |
шш
[ʃː] |
шшв
[ʃːʷ] |
ъ
[ʔ] |
Lexicon
Most of Kaitag's vocabulary stems from proto-Northeast-Caucasian roots. Like with other languages of Dagestan, there is a considerable number of Arabic, Iranian, Turkic and recently Russian loanwords.
| No. | English | Kaitag |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | ду [du] |
| 2 | you (singular) | и [(ʔ)ɪ] |
| 3 | he | гье [hɛ] |
| 4 | we | нисса [nisːɑ] (excl.), ниххьва [niçːʷɑ] (incl.) |
| 5 | you (plural) | нишша [niʃːɑ] |
| 6 | they | гьетти [hetːɪ] |
| 7 | this | гьеж [hɛʒ] |
| 8 | that | гьет [hɛtʰ] |
| 9 | here | гьежин [hɛʒɪn] |
| 10 | there | гьетин [hɛtʰɪn] |
| 11 | who | ча [t͡ʃʰɑ] |
| 12 | what | ци [t͡sʰɪ] |
| 13 | where | квацци [kʰʷɑt͡sːɪ] |
| 14 | when | цикъел [t͡sʰɪqːɛl] |
| 15 | how | цигле [t͡sʰɪglɛ] |
| 16 | not | аккву [ɑkːʷu] (n.), а(й)- [ɑ(j)-] (v.) |
| 17 | all | сукке [sukːɛ] |
| 18 | many | дахъ [dɑqʰ] |
| 19 | some | чумилра [t͡ʃʰumɪlrɑ] |
| 20 | few | кам [kʰɑm] |
| 21 | other | дикӏар [dɪkʼɑr] |
| 22 | one | ца [t͡sʰɑ] |
| 23 | two | чӏве [t͡ʃʼʷɛ] |
| 24 | three | аӏв [æβ] |
| 25 | four | угъ [uʁ] |
| 26 | five | шве [ʃʷɛ] |
| 27 | big | хвала [χʷɑlɑ] |
| 28 | long | ухъен [uqʰɛn] |
| 29 | wide | баӏъу[bæʔu] |
| 30 | thick | буцц [but͡sː] |
| 31 | heavy | декӏ [dɛkʼ] |
| 32 | small | никӏва [nɪkʼʷɑ] |
| 33 | short | кутӏ [kutʼ] |
| 34 | narrow | гъваӏрцӏ [ʁʷærcʼ] |
| 35 | thin | букӏал [bukʼɑl] |
| 36 | woman | ххьулум [çːulum] |
| 37 | man (adult male) | мургул[murgul] |
| 38 | man (human being) | мейдам [mɛjdɑm] |
| 39 | child | даӏргьаӏ [dærhæ] |
| 40 | wife | ххьади [çːɑdɪ] |
| 41 | husband | сув [suβ] |
| 42 | mother | уба [ubɑ] |
| 43 | father | атта [ɑtːɑ] |
| 44 | animal | мицӏираг [mɪcʼɪrɑg] |
| 45 | fish | кӏас [kʼɑs] |
| 46 | bird | ахьлиъаӏн [ɑçlɪʔæn] |
| 47 | dog | ххваӏ [χːʷæ] |
| 48 | louse | нез [nɛz] |
| 49 | snake | цӏецӏи [cʼɛcʼɪ] |
| 50 | worm | милкъваӏ [mɪlqːʷæ] |
| 51 | tree | ккалкка [kːɑlkːɑ] |
| 52 | forest | дуцца [dut͡sːɑ] |
| 53 | stick | миргъаӏ [mɪrʁæ] |
| 54 | fruit | удар [udɑr] |
| 55 | seed | шва [ʃʷɑ] |
| 56 | leaf | кӏаппар [kʼɑpːɑr] |
| 57 | root | йамппа [jɑmpːɑ] |
| 58 | bark (of a tree) | кам [kɑm] |
| 59 | flower | жуже [ʒuʒɛ] |
| 60 | grass | кьар [qʼɑr] |
| 61 | rope | {{{wrd061}}} |
| 62 | skin | {{{wrd062}}} |
| 63 | meat | {{{wrd063}}} |
| 64 | blood | {{{wrd064}}} |
| 65 | bone | {{{wrd065}}} |
| 66 | fat (noun) | {{{wrd066}}} |
| 67 | egg | {{{wrd067}}} |
| 68 | horn | {{{wrd068}}} |
| 69 | tail | {{{wrd069}}} |
| 70 | feather | {{{wrd070}}} |
| 71 | hair | {{{wrd071}}} |
| 72 | head | {{{wrd072}}} |
| 73 | ear | {{{wrd073}}} |
| 74 | eye | {{{wrd074}}} |
| 75 | nose | {{{wrd075}}} |
| 76 | mouth | {{{wrd076}}} |
| 77 | tooth | {{{wrd077}}} |
| 78 | tongue (organ) | {{{wrd078}}} |
| 79 | fingernail | {{{wrd079}}} |
| 80 | foot | {{{wrd080}}} |
| 81 | leg | {{{wrd081}}} |
| 82 | knee | {{{wrd082}}} |
| 83 | hand | {{{wrd083}}} |
| 84 | wing | {{{wrd084}}} |
| 85 | belly | {{{wrd085}}} |
| 86 | guts | {{{wrd086}}} |
| 87 | neck | {{{wrd087}}} |
| 88 | back | {{{wrd088}}} |
| 89 | breast | {{{wrd089}}} |
| 90 | heart | {{{wrd090}}} |
| 91 | liver | {{{wrd091}}} |
| 92 | to drink | {{{wrd092}}} |
| 93 | to eat | {{{wrd093}}} |
| 94 | to bite | {{{wrd094}}} |
| 95 | to suck | {{{wrd095}}} |
| 96 | to spit | {{{wrd096}}} |
| 97 | to vomit | {{{wrd097}}} |
| 98 | to blow | {{{wrd098}}} |
| 99 | to breathe | {{{wrd099}}} |
| 100 | to laugh | {{{wrd100}}} |
| 101 | to see | {{{wrd101}}} |
| 102 | to hear | {{{wrd102}}} |
| 103 | to know | {{{wrd103}}} |
| 104 | to think | {{{wrd104}}} |
| 105 | to smell | {{{wrd105}}} |
| 106 | to fear | {{{wrd106}}} |
| 107 | to sleep | {{{wrd107}}} |
| 108 | to live | {{{wrd108}}} |
| 109 | to die | {{{wrd109}}} |
| 110 | to kill | {{{wrd110}}} |
| 111 | to fight | {{{wrd111}}} |
| 112 | to hunt | {{{wrd112}}} |
| 113 | to hit | {{{wrd113}}} |
| 114 | to cut | {{{wrd114}}} |
| 115 | to split | {{{wrd115}}} |
| 116 | to stab | {{{wrd116}}} |
| 117 | to scratch | {{{wrd117}}} |
| 118 | to dig | {{{wrd118}}} |
| 119 | to swim | {{{wrd119}}} |
| 120 | to fly | {{{wrd120}}} |
| 121 | to walk | {{{wrd121}}} |
| 122 | to come | {{{wrd122}}} |
| 123 | to lie (as in a bed) | {{{wrd123}}} |
| 124 | to sit | {{{wrd124}}} |
| 125 | to stand | {{{wrd125}}} |
| 126 | to turn (intransitive) | {{{wrd126}}} |
| 127 | to fall | {{{wrd127}}} |
| 128 | to give | {{{wrd128}}} |
| 129 | to hold | {{{wrd129}}} |
| 130 | to squeeze | {{{wrd130}}} |
| 131 | to rub | {{{wrd131}}} |
| 132 | to wash | {{{wrd132}}} |
| 133 | to wipe | {{{wrd133}}} |
| 134 | to pull | {{{wrd134}}} |
| 135 | to push | {{{wrd135}}} |
| 136 | to throw | {{{wrd136}}} |
| 137 | to tie | {{{wrd137}}} |
| 138 | to sew | {{{wrd138}}} |
| 139 | to count | {{{wrd139}}} |
| 140 | to say | {{{wrd140}}} |
| 141 | to sing | {{{wrd141}}} |
| 142 | to play | {{{wrd142}}} |
| 143 | to float | {{{wrd143}}} |
| 144 | to flow | {{{wrd144}}} |
| 145 | to freeze | {{{wrd145}}} |
| 146 | to swell | {{{wrd146}}} |
| 147 | sun | {{{wrd147}}} |
| 148 | moon | {{{wrd148}}} |
| 149 | star | {{{wrd149}}} |
| 150 | water | {{{wrd150}}} |
| 151 | rain | {{{wrd151}}} |
| 152 | river | {{{wrd152}}} |
| 153 | lake | {{{wrd153}}} |
| 154 | sea | {{{wrd154}}} |
| 155 | salt | {{{wrd155}}} |
| 156 | stone | {{{wrd156}}} |
| 157 | sand | {{{wrd157}}} |
| 158 | dust | {{{wrd158}}} |
| 159 | earth | {{{wrd159}}} |
| 160 | cloud | {{{wrd160}}} |
| 161 | fog | {{{wrd161}}} |
| 162 | sky | {{{wrd162}}} |
| 163 | wind | {{{wrd163}}} |
| 164 | snow | {{{wrd164}}} |
| 165 | ice | {{{wrd165}}} |
| 166 | smoke | {{{wrd166}}} |
| 167 | fire | {{{wrd167}}} |
| 168 | ash | {{{wrd168}}} |
| 169 | to burn | {{{wrd169}}} |
| 170 | road | {{{wrd170}}} |
| 171 | mountain | {{{wrd171}}} |
| 172 | red | {{{wrd172}}} |
| 173 | green | {{{wrd173}}} |
| 174 | yellow | {{{wrd174}}} |
| 175 | white | {{{wrd175}}} |
| 176 | black | {{{wrd176}}} |
| 177 | night | {{{wrd177}}} |
| 178 | day | {{{wrd178}}} |
| 179 | year | {{{wrd179}}} |
| 180 | warm | {{{wrd180}}} |
| 181 | cold | {{{wrd181}}} |
| 182 | full | {{{wrd182}}} |
| 183 | new | {{{wrd183}}} |
| 184 | old | {{{wrd184}}} |
| 185 | good | {{{wrd185}}} |
| 186 | bad | {{{wrd186}}} |
| 187 | rotten | {{{wrd187}}} |
| 188 | dirty | {{{wrd188}}} |
| 189 | straight | {{{wrd189}}} |
| 190 | round | {{{wrd190}}} |
| 191 | sharp (as a knife) | {{{wrd191}}} |
| 192 | dull (as a knife) | {{{wrd192}}} |
| 193 | smooth | {{{wrd193}}} |
| 194 | wet | {{{wrd194}}} |
| 195 | dry | {{{wrd195}}} |
| 196 | correct | {{{wrd196}}} |
| 197 | near | {{{wrd197}}} |
| 198 | far | {{{wrd198}}} |
| 199 | right | {{{wrd199}}} |
| 200 | left | {{{wrd200}}} |
| 201 | at | {{{wrd201}}} |
| 202 | in | {{{wrd202}}} |
| 203 | with | {{{wrd203}}} |
| 204 | and | {{{wrd204}}} |
| 205 | if | {{{wrd205}}} |
| 206 | because | {{{wrd206}}} |
| 207 | name | {{{wrd207}}} |
References
- ↑ Kaitag at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)

- ↑ Ronald Wixman, Peoples of the USSR: An Ethnographic Handbook, Routledge, 28 Jul 2017, p.89
- ↑ Mutalov, R.O. The classification of the Dargin languages and dialects [online] // Sociolinguistics, 2021. No. 3 (7). Pp.8–25. (In Russ.) DOI: 10.37892/2713-2951-3-7-8-25
- ↑ Temirbulatova, Sapiyahanum (2006). Kaitag dialect of Dargwa. Makhachkala: Dagestani State University. pp. 5–22.
- ↑ Temirbulatova, Sapiyahanum (2006). Kaitag dialect of Dargwa. Makhachkala: Dagestani State University. pp. 26–30.
