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The LazLanguage is a ZanLanguage of Turkey (Asia). SIL code: LZZ. ISO 639-2: cau. Population: 30,000 first language speakers out of 92,000 in the ethnic group in Turkey (1980 estimate). Population total all countries: 33,000 or more. Region: Rize in northeast, towns of Kemer, Atin, Artasen, Vitse, Arkab, Hopa, Sarp, and villages in Artvin, Sakarya, Kocaeli, and Bolu provinces. Also spoken in Belgium, France, Georgia, Germany, USA. Alternate names: LAZURI, LAZE, CHAN, CHANZAN, ZAN, CHANURI. Comments: Linguists recognize that Laz and Mingrelian are inherently unintelligible with each other's speakers. Reported to be 95% bilingual in Turkish, with only the older people not being bilingual. Their name for their language is 'Lazuri'. Not a written language in Turkey. Fishermen. Muslim. Also spoken in: Georgia. (Language name: LAZ.) Population: 2,000 in Georgia (1982 estimate). Alternate names: LAZE, CHAN, CHANZAN, ZAN, CHANURI. Dialects: XOPA (HOPA), CHXALA (CKHALA), VICE-ARXAVA (VITAL-ARKHAVA), ATINA, SAMURZAKAN-ZUGDIDI, SENAKI. Comments: Officially considered to be a single language with Mingrelian, called 'Zan', although linguists recognize that they are not inherently intelligible with each other. Georgian used as literary language. Their name for their language is 'Lazuri'. Not a written language in Georgia or Turkey. Muslim.(extract from http://www.ethnologue.com/)
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