Lezgic

Lezgic, or the Lezgic languages, is a branch of the Northeast Caucasian language family (also referred to in older classifications as Nakh-Daghestanian). It comprises several related languages spoken in the Caucasus, with the best known being Lezgi (Lezgian) and Tabasaran. The branch is named after the Lezgins, an ethnic group primarily associated with southern Dagestan and northeastern Azerbaijan.

Geographic distribution and speakers are concentrated in southern Dagestan in Russia and in parts of northeastern Azerbaijan, with smaller communities in surrounding regions. Lezgic languages are used in daily communication, traditional culture, and local media, though speaker populations and language vitality vary considerably among individual languages.

Classification within the Northeast Caucasian family is not universally agreed. Most classifications place Lezgic as a coherent branch containing Lezgi and Tabasaran as core members, along with several smaller languages linked to the group. The internal subgrouping is the subject of scholarly debate, and different linguists may propose slightly different arrangements.

Linguistically, Lezgic languages are known for rich consonant inventories and complex morphology, including extensive nominal and verbal inflection and substantial case marking. They generally exhibit agglutinative or fusional tendencies and can show varied alignment patterns across tenses and moods.

Writing systems for modern Lezgic languages are predominantly Cyrillic in Dagestan and Azerbaijan, with historical use of other scripts in certain periods. Lezgi and Tabasaran have active efforts in language documentation, education, and media to maintain and standardize their languages. endonym usage and ethnolinguistic identity remain central to ongoing cultural preservation.

See also Northeast Caucasian languages; Lezgian language; Tabasaran language.