Linguistic Diversity in the Caucasus

Posted: 6 Jun 2008

See all articles by Bernard Comrie

Bernard Comrie

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Abstract

The Caucasus is characterized by a relatively high level of linguistic diversity, whether measured in terms of number of languages, number of language families, or structural properties. This is in stark contrast to low levels of linguistic diversity in neighboring areas (Europe, Middle East), although the Caucasus does not reach such high levels of linguistic diversity as are found in New Guinea, and thee is a difference between greater diversity in the North Caucasus, less in the South Caucasus. Illustrative structural properties show not only idiosyncratic properties of individual languages and families but also features that have spread across the boundaries separating languages and families, sometimes with variation across languages with regard to finer points of detail, although there are few features characterizing the Caucasus as a single linguistic area. Social factors have probably played at least as important a role as geography in the development of linguistic diversity in the Caucasus.

Suggested Citation

Comrie, Bernard, Linguistic Diversity in the Caucasus. Annual Review of Anthropology, Vol. 37, October 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1141307

Bernard Comrie (Contact Author)

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology ( email )

Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 10
Bonn, 53113
Germany

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Abstract Views
413
PlumX Metrics