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Attian: Difference between revisions
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The language has been documented in the Caucasus since at least the 9<sup>th</sup> century AD, with the discovery of the '''Hayastani documents''', (Attian: '''Egrava ta Hayaztan''', '''חגרַוַ טַ חַיַזטַנ''') a Greek transcript of the languages in an around the [[w:Transcaucasian|Transcaucasian]] settlements. The now fragile documents were written by the Byzantine Greek philosopher Antenor [[w:Yerevan|Erevanon]], in an effort to investigate the ethnic diversity i the region: | The language has been documented in the Caucasus since at least the 9<sup>th</sup> century AD, with the discovery of the '''Hayastani documents''', (Attian: '''Egrava ta Hayaztan''', '''חגרַוַ טַ חַיַזטַנ''') a Greek transcript of the languages in an around the [[w:Transcaucasian|Transcaucasian]] settlements. The now fragile documents were written by the Byzantine Greek philosopher Antenor [[w:Yerevan|Erevanon]], in an effort to investigate the ethnic diversity i the region: | ||
{{quote | |||
|text=I have seen many different men of various posture and pride passing these roads, none less awe-inspiring than the other: The '''[[w:Armenians|Armenioi]]''', an intelligent breed, clever and calculating merchants speaking a language not too dissimilar to our own. [...] <!-- Then there are the '''[[w:Georgians|Georgioi]]''', quite similar to the Armenioi, but far moredivided and barbaric in their utterances, just like the warmonging Kurds and Turks. --> Then there are the '''[[Qafesona|Caphessonioi]]''', peaceful, tranquil, with a timid stance towards strangers, speaking a language using the very letters of our own alphabet. The '''[[Attian|Attnicoi]]''' on the other hand, are interesting, a reclusive tribe of people, shy to speak with their proper, unintelligible speech; preferring to use that of their neighbours [...]'' | |||
|sign=-Antenor Erevanon, 9<sup>th</sup> century Judaeo-Greek philospher and settler | |||
|source=Journeys through the Near East | |||
}} | |||
The number of speakers of the language is unknown, but the numbers are estimated to be fairly low. Influence by neighboring languages, such as Armenian, Georgian and enclaves of Greek, [[w:Hebrew|Hebrew]] and [[Qafesona]] speakers threaten the language by the inclusion of loanwords, but the greatest threat is from the universal English language, as more and more Attians acquire internet and television, featuring the language. | The number of speakers of the language is unknown, but the numbers are estimated to be fairly low. Influence by neighboring languages, such as Armenian, Georgian and enclaves of Greek, [[w:Hebrew|Hebrew]] and [[Qafesona]] speakers threaten the language by the inclusion of loanwords, but the greatest threat is from the universal English language, as more and more Attians acquire internet and television, featuring the language. | ||