Language Policy in Circassia

International Centre for Circassian Studies (ICCS)

Language Policy and Education

in Circassia

[From A. Jaimoukha, The Circassians: A Handbook, London: RoutledgeCurzon (Taylor & Francis); New York: Palgrave and Routledge, 2001, pp 251-61.

Additional information is added to take account of more recent developments]

Language is the means by which the history and culture of a people, and hence a principal part of its identity, is comprehended and depicted. Culture is transmitted and the essential national characteristics are perpetuated through language. In essence, it is the repository of the spirit of a nation, and losing it is like wrenching the soul out of a people. Ezra Pound expressed the value of language, any language, succinctly: ‘The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one language, and no single language is capable of expressing all forms and degrees of human comprehension.’ It is in the interest of humanity that all languages of the world are preserved... Read more in the attached Microsoft Word and pdf files.