Svan language

Svan (ლუშნუ ნინ lušnu nin; Georgian: სვანური ენა, romanized: svanuri ena) is a Kartvelian language spoken in the western Georgian region of Svaneti primarily by the Svans, a subgroup of Georgians. It is of particular interest because it has retained many features that have been lost in the other Kartvelian languages.

Historically, Svan has only been a spoken, regional language used informally in day-to-day activities. Svan speakers have traditionally relied on the standard Georgian as their literary language and through the late 19th century there were no known written Svan grammar books or dictionaries. With its speakers variously estimated to be between 30,000 and 80,000, the UNESCO designates Svan as a "definitely endangered language".