Major General James G. Blunt

Karata (кӏкӏирлӏи) is an Andic language of the Northeast Caucasian language family spoken in southern Dagestan, Russia by 260 Karata in 2010. There are ten towns in which the language is traditionally spoken: Karata, Anchix, Tukita, Rachabalda, Lower Inxelo, Mashtada, Archo, Chabakovo, Racitl, and formerly Siux.[2] Speakers use Avar as their literary language.[1]

Dialects

The language has two dialects, Karatin and Tokitin, which slightly differ in phonetics and morphology but are mutually intelligible.[3] There are also four subdialects; Anchikh, Archi, Ratsitl and Rachabalda.[3]

Phonology

Consonants

Consonant phonemes of Karata[4]
Labial Dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Uvular Pharyn-
geal
Glottal
central lateral
lenis fortis lenis fortis lenis fortis lenis fortis lenis fortis
Nasal m n
Plosive voiced b d ɡ
voiceless p t k ʔ
ejective ()
Affricate voiced (d͡ʒ)
voiceless t͡s t͡sː t͡ʃ t͡ʃː t͡ɬː k͡xː q͡χː
ejective t͡sʼ t͡sːʼ t͡ʃʼ t͡ʃːʼ t͡ɬʼ t͡ɬːʼ k͡xːʼ q͡χːʼ
Fricative voiceless s ʃ ʃː ɬ ɬː ç x ʜ h
voiced v z ʒ ɣ ʢ
Trill r
Approximant l j

Vowels

References

  1. ^ a b Karata at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ Nichols, Johanna (2006). "Review: Karatinsko-russkij slovar' [Karata-Russian Dictionary]". Anthropological Linguistics. 48 (1): 95–98. ISSN 0003-5483.
  3. ^ a b "The Karatas". www.eki.ee. The Red Book of the Peoples of the Russian Empire. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  4. ^ Consonant Systems of the North-East Caucasian Languages on TITUS DIDACTICA