Kartvelian (Georgian) languages
The Kartvelian (Georgian) languages are a group of languages, spoken in Georgia (more than 70% of the population), Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia and other countries. This group of languages is a part of the family of Iberian-Caucasian languages.Kartvelian (Georgian) languages include:
- Georgian (Kartuli) - official language of the republic of Georgia, 4 million native speakers (70% of the population of Georgia including Svans and Mingrelians (Megrels) and Lazs (Chans), who are ethnic Georgians, ethnographic groups of Georgian people);
- Mingrelian (Megrelian) (Megruli in Georgian, Margali in Megrelian/Mingrelian) - appr. 300,000 native speakers mainly in Samegrelo region of Western Georgia.
- Laz (Lazuri) - estimates vary from more than 500,000 speakers. Mainly spoken in the Black Sea littoral area of Northeast Turkey (Rize, Trabzon and Hopa). Lazs also are ethnic Georgians. In modern Turkey exist also historical regions of Georgia - Tao-Klarjeti and Artaani (now provinces of Erzerum and Ardagan) with about 1,5 million Georgians.
- Svan (Svanuri) - appr. 40,000 native speakers in the northern mountainous region of Georgia.