Tsezic languages

The Tsezic languages form one of the seven main branches of the Northeast Caucasian language family. It branches into Tsez–Hinukh and Bezhta–Hunzib–Khwarshi, according to research published in 2009. They were formerly classified geographically into East Tsezic and West Tsezic.
The Avar language serves as the literary language for speakers of Tsezic languages.

Internal branching

Schulze gives the following family tree for the Tsezic languages:

Tsezic languages
*Tsez–Hinukh
**Tsez
**Hinukh
*Bezhta–Hunzib–Khwarshi
**Bezhta
**Hunzib
**Khwarshi

Figures retrieved from Ethnologue.
Kassian and Testelets do not consider Tsez and Hinukh to form a distinct subgroup.