@article{Kutscher2015,
  author    = {Silvia Kutscher},
  title     = {The language of the Laz in Turkey: Contact-induced change or gradual language loss?},
  series   = {Turkic Languages},
  volume    = {12},
  number    = {1},
  issn      = {1431-4983},
  url       = {https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:mh39-34133},
  pages     = {82 -- 102},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Laz, a sister language of Georgian spoken on the southeastem coast of the Black Sea, is the only member of the South Caucasian family which is spoken primarily in Turkey. Due to the socio-political circumstances all Speakers of Laz living in Turkey are bilingual and use Laz primarily in private communication. Using these observations as a starting point, the paper looks at the question of whether Laz is an endangered language. In order to clarify the sociolinguistic Situation of Laz in Turkey, the different levels involved in the process of gradual language loss (language-extemal factors, speech behaviour and structural consequences within the language system) are dealt with in detail. To determine which data should be taken as basis for the documentation of the language, the paper also discusses linguistic criteria for differentiating between fully competent Speakers of Laz and Speakers who show signs of language attrition.},
  language  = {en}
}