Proto-Circassian

Short description: Reconstructed ancestor of the Circassian languages

Proto-Circassian

Proto-Adyghe–Kabardian
Reconstruction of| Circassian languages

Reconstructed
ancestor

Proto-Northwest Caucasian

Proto-Circassian (or Proto-Adyghe–Kabardian) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Adyghean and Kabardian languages.

## Contents

* 1 Phonology
* 1.1 Consonants
* 1.2 Aspirated consonants to plain
* 1.3 Plain voiceless consonants to voiced
* 1.4 Velar consonants to palato-alveolar
* 1.5 Affricate to fricative
* 1.6 Labialized voiceless velar fricative
* 1.7 Labialized postalveolar
* 2 Grammar
* 2.1 Numbers
* 3 Schleicher's fable
* 4 See also
* 5 References

## Phonology

The Circassian dialects family tree. The major differences in the Circassian dialects

### Consonants

The consonant system is reconstructed with a four-way phonation contrast in stops and affricates, and a two-way contrast in fricatives.

Proto
Circassian  | Western Circassian | Eastern Circassian

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|

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⟩
*t͡ɕʰʷ ⟨чъʰу⟩ | *t͡ɕʰʷ ⟨чъʰу⟩ | t͡ɕʰʷ ⟨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⟩ | ʒʷ ⟨жъу⟩ | *v ⟨в⟩ | v ⟨в⟩
*ɕʷ ⟨шъу⟩ | *ɕʷ ⟨шъу⟩ | ɕʷ ⟨щу⟩ | ʃʷ ⟨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⟩

### Aspirated consonants to plain

In the Proto-Circassian there was a series of aspirated consonants that survived in the Shapsug and Bzhedugh dialect while they became plain consonants in the other dialects.

* pʰ ⟨пʰ⟩ → p ⟨п⟩
* tʰ ⟨тʰ⟩ → t ⟨т⟩
* kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩ → t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩
* kʷʰ ⟨кʰу⟩ → kʷ ⟨ку⟩
* qʰ ⟨кʰъ⟩ → q ⟨къ⟩
* qʷʰ ⟨кʰъу⟩ → qʷ ⟨къу⟩
* t͡sʰ ⟨цʰ⟩ → t͡s ⟨ц⟩
* t͡ɕʰʷ ⟨чʰу⟩ → t͡ɕʷ ⟨чу⟩
* ʃʰ ⟨шʰ⟩ → ʃ ⟨ш⟩
* ʂʰ ⟨шʰъ⟩ → ʂ ⟨шъ⟩

Word  | Proto
Circassian  | Shapsug
Bzhedug  | Abzakh
Chemgui  | Kabardian

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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  | kʰʷa ⟨кʰо⟩ | kʰʷa ⟨кʰо⟩ | kʷa ⟨ко⟩ | kʷa ⟨куэ⟩
grave  | qʰa ⟨кʰъэ⟩ | qʰa ⟨кʰъэ⟩ | qa ⟨къэ⟩ | q͡χa ⟨кхъэ⟩
pig  | qʷʰa ⟨кʰъо⟩ | qʷʰa ⟨кʰъо⟩ | qʷa ⟨къо⟩ | q͡χʷa ⟨кхъуэ⟩

### Plain voiceless consonants to voiced

In the Proto-Circassian there was a series of tense consonants that became voiced in the eastern dialects.

* p ⟨п⟩ → b ⟨б⟩
* t ⟨т⟩ → d ⟨д⟩
* t͡s ⟨ц⟩ → d͡z ⟨дз⟩
* t͡ɕʷ ⟨цу⟩ → v ⟨в⟩
* kʲ ⟨кь⟩ → ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ / d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩
* kʷ ⟨ку⟩ → ɡʷ ⟨гу⟩
* t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ → d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ / ʒ ⟨ж⟩
* t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ → d͡ʐ ⟨джъ⟩ / ʒ ⟨ж⟩

Word  | Proto
Circassian  | Bzhedug
Chemgui  | Baslaney  | Kabardian

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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⟩

### Velar consonants to palato-alveolar

In the Proto-Circassian language there exist a palatalized voiced velar stop [ɡʲ] ⟨гь⟩, a palatalized aspirated voiceless velar stop [kʰʲ], a palatalized voiceless velar stop [kʲ] ⟨кь⟩ and a palatalized velar ejective [kʲʼ] ⟨кӏь⟩. The consonants гь [ɡʲ], кь [kʲ] and кӏь [kʲʼ] survive in the Shapsug dialect, in the Besleney dialect and in the Kabardian Uzunyayla dialect.[1] In other Circassian dialects they were merged with the palato-alveolar consonants дж [d͡ʒ], ч [t͡ʃ] and кӏ [t͡ʃʼ] respectively.[2][3][4]

* ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ → d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩
* kʲʰ ⟨кʰь⟩ → t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩
* kʲ ⟨кь⟩ → t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ / ɡʲ ⟨гь⟩ / d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩
* kʲʼ ⟨кӏь⟩ → t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩

Word  | Proto
Circassian  | Shapsug  | Bzhedug
Chemgui
Abzakh  | Baslaney  | Kabardian

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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⟩

### Affricate to fricative

In the Abzakh and the Kabardian dialects, the affricate postalveolar consonants became fricative.

* d͡ʒ ⟨дж⟩ → ʒ ⟨ж⟩
* t͡ʃ ⟨ч⟩ → ʃ ⟨ш⟩ / ʒ ⟨ж⟩
* t͡ʃʼ ⟨кӏ⟩ → ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩
* t͡ʂ ⟨чъ⟩ → ʂ ⟨шъ⟩ / ʒ ⟨ж⟩
* t͡ʂʼ ⟨чӏ⟩ → ɕʼ ⟨щӏ⟩

Word  | Proto
Circassian  | Bzhedug
Chemgui  | Abzakh  | Baslaney  | Kabardian

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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 ⟨ӏелэ⟩ | 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⟩

### Labialized voiceless velar fricative

Proto-Circassian had a labialized voiceless velar fricative [xʷ] which survived in the eastern dialects while it became a voiceless labiodental fricative [f] in the western dialects.

* xʷ ⟨ху⟩ → f ⟨ф⟩

Word  | Proto
Circassian  | Western  | Eastern

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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⟩

### Labialized postalveolar

Proto-Circassian had a series of labialized postalveolar consonants (t͡ɕʷ, ʑʷ, ɕʷ and ɕʷʼ). These consonants survived in the western dialects while they became labiodental consonants in the eastern dialects.

* t͡ɕʷ ⟨цу⟩ → v ⟨v⟩
* ʑʷ ⟨жъу⟩ → v ⟨v⟩
* ɕʷ ⟨шъу⟩ → f ⟨ф⟩
* ɕʷʼ ⟨шӏу⟩ → fʼ ⟨фӏ⟩

Word  | Proto
Circassian  | Western  | Eastern

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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  | машӏо ⟨maːɕʷʼa⟩ | машӏо ⟨maːɕʷʼa⟩ | мафӏэ ⟨maːfʼa⟩
dirty  | ɕʷʼajə⟨шӏои⟩ | ɕʷʼajə⟨шӏои⟩ | fʼaj ⟨фӏей⟩

## Grammar

### Numbers

English  | Proto-Circassian  | Ubykh | Western Circassian | Kabardian | Baslaney

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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

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.

## See also

* Proto Abkhaz-Abaza
* Proto-Northwest Caucasian language

## References

1. ↑ Консонантная система уляпского говора в сопоставлении с аналогами других диалектов адыгских языков Script error: The function "in_lang" does not exist.
2. ↑ Палатализация (смягчение) и аффрикатизация согласных Script error: The function "in_lang" does not exist.
3. ↑ Переднеязычные мягкие шипящие аффрикаты дж, ч, к1 Script error: The function "in_lang" does not exist.
4. ↑ Studia Caucasologica I page 11 Script error: The function "in_lang" does not exist.

* STAROSTIN, Sergei A.; NIKOLAYEV, Sergei L. (1994). A North Caucasian Etymological Dictionary: Preface.
* Common West Caucasian: The Reconstruction of its Phonological System and Parts of its Lexicon and Morphology. Leiden, The Netherlands : Research School CNWS, 1996; xxvi, 452 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. ISBN 9073782732

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