Caucasian Languages

Ibero-Caucasian Languges family
Daguestani Languages
Lezgui language group
 

Udi or Old Albabian language
 

The Udi language is a member of Caucasian languages family's Dagestani Languages Lezgui language group. According to scientists Albanian or Udi language was Old Caucasian Albania's written literary language. In accordance with historic sources the old Albania united 26 tribes. Due to historical events and cataclysms Udi language's written monuments are lost. Thislanguage was used on the whole territory of Old Albania - today a considerable part of modern Azerbaijan. Slowly Muslim world assimilated Albanians (Uds). In the second half of XIX century Udi language is still presentin the following villages of Sheki region in Azerbaijan, namely: Vartashen, Low-Vartashen, Sultan Nuxa, Jourli, Marzabieli, Kirzan. We can consider that the number of Udi language dialects was considerablynumerous in comparison with present times. Nowadays, Udi language counts only two dialects. One is known as Vtashenian and the second as Nij dialect. The Ud population immigrated in Georgia in the years 1920-1922. Today they live in Kvareli region - namely in the village called Oktomberi. In Vartashen Udi language's position is very weak. Local Udi population uses Udi Vartashenian dialect only at home. While in Georgia and especially in the mixed families Udi language is almost never used by Uds. Udi people as Georgians are orthodox by their belief. That religious fact facilitated their almost complete assimilation with Georgian population. However some Ud's do remember Udi language and try to transmit their knowledge to younger generation. As to Nij dialect its positions are more stable. The population of Nij village attains 500 people. Education in Udi language was launched in Georgia for the first time in 1943. The first Ud language ABC "Saubji das" (first lesson) was printed inSukhumi. The educational process in Udi language was canceled according to Ud's request. In place of Ud language school Georgian language school was opened. Nowadays only Georgian language school functions in Oktomberivillage, while in Nij village educational process is carried out in Russian. Today the overall number of Ud's does not exceed 8500 people.
 

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Informer	Video in Real Player
Miss Sophio Khachikov, MissSonia Atakhisvili and Mr. Valiko Kitsbabashvili Georgia, Kakheti, Kvareli, Village Octomberi
Mr. Valiko Kitsbabashvili (first video) Georgia, Kakheti, Kvareli, Village Octomberi
Mr. Valiko Kitsbabashvili (second video) Georgia, Kakheti, Kvareli, Village Octomberi
Mss Kazarashvili Astkhik, Mss Ivanishvili Nina and Agasishvili Nana Georgia, Kakheti, Kvareli, Village Octomberi
Miss Leila Georgia, Kakheti, Kvareli, Village Octomberi

Translation of UDI texts

A tale of a queen and a lazy man.pdf

husband and a wife.pdf

Ivan Gharnina.pdf

Qitsbabashvili Vladimir.pdf

Poetry.pdf

Shakhzada and Shakhvaladi.pdf

Shepard.pdf