Mordvinic languages
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Mordvinic languages
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It has been suggested that Republic of Mordovia#Language be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) Proposed since August 2011. |
| Mordvinic | |
|---|---|
| Ethnicity: | Mordvins |
| Geographic distribution: |
Southwestern and Southeastern Russia |
| Linguistic classification: | Uralic
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| Subdivisions: | |
The Mordvinic languages,[1] alternatively Mordvin languages,[2] or Mordvinian languages, (Russian: Mordovskie yazyki, the official Russian term for the language pair)[3] are a subgroup of the Uralic languages, comprising the closely related Erzya language and Moksha language.[4] Previously considered a single "Mordvin language",[5] it is now treated as a small language family. Due to differences in phonology, lexicon, and grammar, Erzya and Moksha are not mutually intelligible, to the extent that Russian language is often used for intergroup communications.[6]
The two Mordvinic languages also have separate literary forms. The Erzya literary language was created in 1922 and the Mokshan in 1923.[7]
Phonological differences between the two languages include:[5]
- Moksha retains a distinction between the vowels /ɛ, e/ while in Erzya, both have merged as /e/.
- In unstressed syllables, Erzya features vowel harmony like many other Uralic languages, using [e] in front-vocalic words and [o] in back-vocalic words. Moksha has a simple schwa [ə] in their place.
- Word-initially, Erzya has a postalveolar affricate /tʃ/ corresponding to a fricative /ʃ/ in Moksha.
- Next to voiceless consonants, liquids /r, rʲ, l, lʲ/ and the semivowel /j/ are devoiced in Moksha to [r̥ r̥ʲ l̥ l̥ʲ ȷ̊].
The medieval Muromian language may have been Mordvinic, or close to Mordvinic.
References
- ^ Bright, William (1992). International Encyclopedia of Linguistics. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-505196-4. http://books.google.com/books?id=oo4YAAAAIAAJ&q=Erza&pgis=1.
- ^ Mordvin languages @ google books
- ^ Dalby, Andrew (1998). Dictionary of Languages. Columbia University Press. http://books.google.com/books?id=yKSeVLghcfQC&pg=PA429&dq=Erza.
- ^ Grenoble, Lenore (2003). Language Policy in the Soviet Union. Springer. p. A80. ISBN 978-1-4020-1298-3. http://books.google.com/books?id=Nn3xDTiL0PQC&pg=PA80&dq=Mordvinic+languages.
- ^ a b Raun, Alo (1988). Sinor, Denis. ed. The Uralic languages: Description, history and foreign influences. BRILL. p. A96. ISBN 978-90-04-07741-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=TM2NQ78dP2wC&pg=PA96.
- ^ Minahan, James (2000). "Mordvin+language" One Europe, Many Nations. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. A489. ISBN 978-0-313-30984-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=NwvoM-ZFoAgC&pg=PA489&dq="Mordvin+language".
- ^ Wixman, Ronald (1984). The Peoples of the USSR. M.E. Sharpe. p. A137. ISBN 978-0-87332-506-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=WKrN10g4whAC&pg=PA137.
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