A North West Caucasian Linguistic Reader

by John Colarusso

Edited by John Colarusso with the help of B. George and Zaira Hewitt for the Abzhwi Abkhaz text. This Reader in Northwest Caucasian Languages brings together for the first time grammatical sketches and examples from all the languages of this typologically unusual family, including three dialects of Circassian and three of Abkhaz-Abaza, plus Ubykh. The texts are traditional tales, including two pagan hymns, all of which have been phonemicized (with an 81st consonant added to Ubykh), morphologically analyzed, glossed, and translated. This volume will be of use to those who wish to maintain these languages or to revive them, since all are now endangered. Theoretical linguists will also find this volume interesting for the numerous unusual features that these languages exhibit. Their large consonantal inventories and vertical vowel systems are known. In addition these languages also have polypersonal verbs that convey the usual argument structure, but also pragmatic, syntactic, referential, and spatial information. They are split ergative, with Abkhaz-Abaza showing morphological ergativity because of a lack of case systems. The latter languages also show rightward wh-movement. Circassian shows rightward clefting, including clefted questions. All have headless relative constructions. Verb cliticization is found in Abkhaz-Abaza along with verb chaining. Most vocabulary, including many core items, is built up by extensive compounding processes. They offer a rich area for study. ISBN 9783862886623. LINCOM Studies in Caucasian Linguistics 21. 292pp. 2015.

Paperback

Published January 1, 2015

About the author

John's major interests are Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Comparative Mythology, the size of language (Vastness Theory), and International Relations (culture and nationalism). Geographic interests are centered on Inner Eurasia, especially the Caucasus, and cover both modern and ancient periods. Also, at times, John served as an informal diplomat and advisor in matters concerning the Caucasus and its peoples.

Born in California, raised in Mississippi and New Jersey.
John Colarusso first studied physics and then took two degrees in philosophy (BA Cornell, MA Northwestern).
He earned his doctorate in Linguistics from Harvard University in 1975. Since 1967 he has studied the Caucasus, its languages, myths, and cultures.
He has taught at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario since 1976. Since 1992 he has been active in advising leaders and policy makers in Washington, Ottawa, Moscow, and the Caucasus itself.

In addition to more than sixty-five articles on Linguistics, myth, politics, and the Caucasus, he has written three books, edited one, and is finishing two more.

He is married and the father of three children. When relaxing he enjoys hiking and biking, or reading math, paleontology, and the works of William Faulkner.