Chamalal language
Chamalal is an Andic language of the Northeast Caucasian language family spoken in southwestern Dagestan, Russia by approximately 5,100 ethnic Chamalals. It has three quite distinct dialects, Gadyri, Gakvari, and Gigatl.
Classification
Chamalal has three distinct dialects: Gadyri, Gakvari, and Gigatl. There are also two more dialects: Kwenkhi, Tsumada.
Gigatl and Chamalal proper are considered to be sublanguages.
The approximately 500 ethnic speakers live in eight villages in the Tsumadinsky District on the left bank of the Andi-Koisu river in the Dagestan Republic and in the Chechnya Republic. The speakers are mostly Muslim, primarily following Sunni Islam since the 8th or 9th century.
There are no countries with Chamalal as an official language.
History
Chamalal is spoken in southwestern Dagestan, Russia by indigenous Chamalals since the 8th or 9th century. The ethnic population is approximately 5,000, with around 5,100 speakers. The language has a 6b status.
Writing system
Chamalal is an unwritten language. Avar and Russian are used in school, and Avar is also used for literary purposes.