Languages of Adzhatia

Geopoeia
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In the State of Adzhatia several languages are spoken, the most important of which is of course Adzhatic. This language is the native language of 58% of the Adzhatians in Adzhatia as well as by some left-over Adzhatians in the original homeland around the Russian-Belarusian-Ucrainian border, but the number of the latter is rapidly declining. Almost 99% of the inhabitants of the State of Adzhatia master the language sufficiently in public life. The Adzhatic language is an Indo-European language and, according to most linguists, a member of the Khadurian branch. Only Adzhatian has official status.
(Note that although the Adzhatian adjective adźać refers to both language and other things, in English there is a difference between Adzhatic, which refers to the language alone, and Adzhatian, which refers to persons, geography, institutions etc. that are of Adzhatia.)

The second language is Russian. For some 13% of the Adzhatian population, Russian is still the mother tongue. 60% of the population still speak the language fluently, but this number is slowly declining in favour of English.

The most indigenous languages that are still spoken are some minor Finno-Ugric languages of the Finnic branch. They are Tansa proper (the native language of 19% of the population of Adzhatia, and mastered as second language by another 6%), Tansa Alidaŕ (some 600 native speakers; considered endangered), Varula (8% native speakers; a few dozen master it as second language) and Toini (some 1500 native speakers; a few dozen master it as second language). Tansa Alidaŕ, spoken in the vicinity of the city of Alidaŕ, is considered endangered since there is a declining number of young people speaking the language; most of them mainly speak Adzhatian and a smaller number revert to Tansa proper. Toini is spoken in a more secluded area and is in less danger of disappearing.

Status of Russian in Adzhatia

Although Russian isn't an official language in Adzhatia, many traffic signs around the larger cities are provided in both Adzhatic (Cyrillic and Latin) and Russian versions. Critics say this is one of the causes of the many traffic incidents each year, because people have not enough time to read the signs. Official notifications from national and local governments are provided almost always with a Russian translation or summary.

On the other hand, television, radio and newspapers in Russian are strongly discouraged by the government; it is almost impossible to get a licence to start a broadcasting company if the main language of the programmes is Russian, although that is never the reason why a company doesn't get the licence. Companies that tried to circumvent the rules were shut down within a week, mostly due to 'failing to have completed the necessary formalities'. This dubious treatment is one of the reasons that Adzhatia hasn't been able to achieve membership of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and, subsequently, has never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest or one of the other EBU competitions. (Some Adzhatian broadcasting organisations have protested against this situation, as, according to them, countries like Belarus and Azerbaijan have questionable records as well and were admitted regardless.)

Although Russian isn't openly discriminated (and there are the signs and notifications that prove otherwise), Adzhatia is often criticised for its questionable ways of dealing with the language rights of the Russian population in the country.

Name of Adzhatia in different languages

  • Dutch: Adzjatië
  • Finnish: Adžatia
  • French: Adjatie
  • German: Adschatien
  • Italian: Agiazia
  • Harrawi: Adyas
  • Kaupelanese: Ajatya
  • Khusqaian: Acĭacĭa
  • Norwegian: Adsjatia
  • Polish: Adźacja
  • Portuguese: Ajácia
  • Russian: Аджатиа
  • Spanish: Ayatia
  • Tarmoryan: لادصاتية (el-Edzhatye)
  • Yukkish: Adzjati
  • Yutyraman: Ajaxa