LAZLAR

Een uittreksel van M. Lordkipanidze (...)

Het Koninkrijk van Lazistan wordt, en dat naar Griekse geschreven bronnen, de onmiddellijke erfgenaam genoemd van het Koninkrijk Kolchis. Sprekende over Lasica en het volk van Laz, uit een 5de eeuwse anonieme Byzantijnse bron en volgens 6de eeuwse historici: Procopius van Caesarea, John Lides, en Agathias Scholasticus opmerkte, geld als regel, dat het volk van Laz zijn de erfgenamen van de oude Kolchianen, dat zij in het verleden Kolchianen werden genoemd, en dat de Kolchianen de erfgenamen zijn van het volk van Laz. Deze historici hanteren beide termen als synoniemen. (...) Laz The Colchis or Colchida region is called Kolkheti in Laz/Mingrelian, the native language. This is the coastal eastern border of the Black Sea, in present day Turkey and Georgia. Laz/Mingrelian is a South Caucasian or Kartvelian language with two varieties, Laz and Mingrelian, close to Georgian. The majority of Laz people are living in Turkey, but Laz has no official status in Turkey. 1.5 million Laz live in Turkey and approximately 250,000 speak Laz (others give much lower figures). The term Lazistan is also used for the region of the Laz in Turkey, but that region does not cover all the Laz territory. In adition Lazistan is a forbidden term in Turkey, where Dogu Karadeniz is used to name Colchis. Mingrelia is in Georgia , but Mingrelian has no official status there. There may be 1,2 million Mingrelians in Georgia, 500.000 speakers of the language. So far, we have a list for Laz in Turkey. The language is natively called Lazuri (Laz) or Margaluri (Mingrelian). Lazistan

Lazika or Lazistan was a principality under succesive Byzantine and Arab rule. In the IXth century, it was occupied by the principality of Taoklardjetia and in the Xth century it was annexed by the kingdom of Georgia. Autonomy was gained in 1010. In XIVth Century, Lazistan was transferred to the principality of Guria but retained autonomy. In the XVth century it was occupied for a short period by the Ottoman army, and again occupied in the XVIth century. It was then reconquerred by Gurian prince Rostima (1564), reoccupied two times, and reconquerred, for the last time by Mamia Gureli prince in 1604). In 1627, it was included in the Ottoman Empire and the country was islamized. LAZ in Turkey LAZ (LAZURI, LAZE, CHAN, CHANZAN, ZAN, CHANURI) [LZZ] 30,000 first language speakers out of 92,000 in the ethnic group in Turkey (1980 estimate); 3,943 monolinguals (1965 census); 1,000 to 1,500 in Germany (1987); 2,000 in Georgia (1982 estimate); 33,000 or more in allcountries. Rize in northeast, towns of Kemer, Atin, Artasen, Vitse, Arkab, Hopa, Sarp; and villages in Artvin, Sakarya, Kocaeli, and Bolu provinces. South Caucasian, Zan. Reported to be 95% bilingual in Turkish, with only the older people not being bilingual. Their name for their language is 'Lazuri'. Not a written language in Turkey. In Germany they have their own journal, cultural society. Linguists recognize that Laz and Mingrelian are inherently unintelligible with each other. Fishermen. Muslim. Survey needed. In Georgia LAZ (LAZE, CHAN, CHANZAN, ZAN, CHANURI) [LZZ] 2,000 in Georgia (1982 estimate); 1,000 to 1,500 in Germany; 30,000 in Turkey(1980 estimate); 33,000 or more in all countries. Adjar ASSR, Georgia, a couple of villages. Also in Turkey, Germany, Belgium, France. South Caucasian, Zan. Dialects: XOPA (HOPA), CHXALA (CKHALA), VICE-ARXAVA (VITAL-ARKHAVA), ATINA, SAMURZAKAN-ZUGDIDI, SENAKI. Their name for their language is Lazuri'. Not a written language in Georgia but *in Turkey last years is written*. Georgian used as literary language.Officially considered to be asingle language with Mingrelian, called 'Zan', although linguists recognize that they are not inherently intelligible with each other. In Germany they have their own journal and cultural society. Muslim. Survey needed. MINGRELIAN (MARGALURI, MEGREL, MEGRULI) [XMF] 500,000 (1989 B.G. Hewitt). Lowland west Georgia. South Caucasian, Zan. Their name for themselves is 'Margaluri'. Not a written language. Georgian used as a literary language. Officially considered to be a single language with Laz, called Zan, but linguists recognize that they are not inherently intelligible with each other. Christian.