Oghur languages
Encyclopedia
The Oghur or Bulgar are a separate branch of the Turkic language family
. It was historically spoken in Volga Bulgaria
. Its only extant member is the Chuvash language
.
It was thus presumably the language spoken in the historical Onogurs
tribal confederation, including the Bulgars
, the Khazars
and the Eurasian Avars, but it is uncertain whether Chuvash is directly descended from any of these, or a separate branch within this dialect group (Johanson 1998).
The Oghur group is characterized by the sound correspondences Oghuric l vs. Common Turkic
(i.e. non-Oghur-Turkic) š and Oghuric r vs. Common Turkic z, for which reason it is also known as "Lir-Turkic", or "r-Turkic". The name oghur itself is an example of the r/z isogloss, being cognate with oghuz
in Common Turkic.
"dj-Turkic" is also used for Oghur, in reference to a sound change from i- to dj-.
Turkic languages
The Turkic languages constitute a language family of at least thirty five languages, spoken by Turkic peoples across a vast area from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean to Siberia and Western China, and are considered to be part of the proposed Altaic language family.Turkic languages are spoken...
. It was historically spoken in Volga Bulgaria
Volga Bulgaria
Volga Bulgaria, or Volga–Kama Bolghar, is a historic Bulgar state that existed between the seventh and thirteenth centuries around the confluence of the Volga and Kama rivers in what is now Russia.-Origin:...
. Its only extant member is the Chuvash language
Chuvash language
Chuvash is a Turkic language spoken in central Russia, primarily in the Chuvash Republic and adjacent areas. It is the only surviving member of the Oghur branch of Turkic languages....
.
It was thus presumably the language spoken in the historical Onogurs
Onogurs
The Onogurs, also known as Utigurs, were a horde of equestrian nomads in the North Eurasian steppe east of the Don River during the 5th to 8th centuries. The Onogurs crossed the Volga and entered into Europe around the year 460 within the larger context of the Great Migrations and the Turkic...
tribal confederation, including the Bulgars
Bulgars
The Bulgars were a semi-nomadic who flourished in the Pontic Steppe and the Volga basin in the 7th century.The Bulgars emerge after the collapse of the Hunnic Empire in the 5th century....
, the Khazars
Khazar language
Khazar was the language spoken by the Khazars, a semi-nomadic Turkic people from Central Asia. It is also referred to as Khazarian, Khazaric, or Khazari. The language is extinct and written records are almost non-existent....
and the Eurasian Avars, but it is uncertain whether Chuvash is directly descended from any of these, or a separate branch within this dialect group (Johanson 1998).
The Oghur group is characterized by the sound correspondences Oghuric l vs. Common Turkic
Common Turkic
Common Turkic or Shaz Turkic is a taxon in some of the classifications of the Turkic languages which in Lars Johanson proposal contain the following subgroups:...
(i.e. non-Oghur-Turkic) š and Oghuric r vs. Common Turkic z, for which reason it is also known as "Lir-Turkic", or "r-Turkic". The name oghur itself is an example of the r/z isogloss, being cognate with oghuz
Oghuz
Oghuz may refer to:*an early Turkic word for "tribe", see Oghuz * Oghuz languages, a major branch of the Turkic language family.* Oghuz Turks, the Turkic groups speaking Oghuz languages* Oghuz Khan, a legendary and semi-mythological Turkic khan....
in Common Turkic.
"dj-Turkic" is also used for Oghur, in reference to a sound change from i- to dj-.
External links
- http://multitree.linguistlist.org/codes/bolg