Abazgi is the branch of the

Northwest Caucasian languages The Northwest Caucasian languages, also called West Caucasian, Abkhazo-Adyghean, Abkhazo-Circassian, Circassic, or sometimes ''Pontic languages'' (from the historical region of Pontus, in contrast to ''Caspian languages'' for the Northeast Cauc ...

that contains the Abaza and Abkhaz languages. "Abazgi" was once the preferred designation, but has now been replaced by "Abkhaz–Abaza". The literary dialects of Abkhaz and Abaza are two ends of a

dialect continuum A dialect continuum or dialect chain is a series of Variety (linguistics), language varieties spoken across some geographical area such that neighboring varieties are Mutual intelligibility, mutually intelligible, but the differences accumulat ...

. Grammatically, the two are very similar; however, the differences in phonology are substantial, and are the main reason many linguists prefer to classify them as distinct languages. Most linguists (see for instance

Viacheslav Chirikba Viacheslav Chirikba is a linguist and politician from Abkhazia. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia between 2011 and 2016. Personal life Chirikba was born on 17 March 1959 in Gagra. From 1966 until 1976, he attended School No.5 in ...

2003) believe that Ubykh is the closest relative of the Abazgi dialect continuum.

References

Bibliography

*Wixman, Ronald. ''The Peoples of the USSR''. p. 2 *

(2003) 'Abkhaz'. – Languages of the World/Materials 119. Muenchen: Lincom Europa. Ethnic groups in Russia Ethnic groups in Abkhazia Northwest Caucasian languages {{NorthwestCaucasian-lang-stub