Day 1: Abkhazia

[Tetro Kornbluth]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abkhazia

A long while ago on this forum there was a day by day series of threads on all countries of the world. Because I am a deeply quixotic soul I've decided to revive this series for the year of our lord 2015. Here, unlike the original series I think, I have decided to include non-recognized countries (or 'countries' if you prefer) just to include a wider range. Also they are some of the more controversial.

Anyway, Abkhazia. Discuss. With maps. Starting below



Abkhaz is one of the Northwest Caucasian languages, which once included Ubykh (now extinct), holder of the most consonants ever noted in a language (81).

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Abkhaz is one of the Northwest Caucasian languages, which once included Ubykh (now extinct), holder of the most consonants ever noted in a language (81).

What a shame. How could they let such an awesome language die?

The Ubykhs are Muslims and left Caucasus for Turkey in 1864 after the Russian conquest. They stopped being nomads and became farmers in western Turkey (around Manyas).

To avoid discrimination their elders encouraged Ubykhs to assimilate into Turkish culture. The last native speaker died as recently as 1992.

They didn't leave, so much as were pushed hard.