23. Prosody


The prosody of the Laz language includes accents and intonation. Sole accents are treated in this study at the moment. The part concerning the intonation will be added when further fieldwork will have been done in good condition.

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23.1. Accents


23.1.1. Nouns, pronouns, adjectives and adverbs

23.1.2. Adpositions, conjunctions and quotation particles

23.1.3. Interjections

23.1.4. Verbal complexes


Accent unity in laz is the verbal or non-verbal complex (*).

(*) Complex = {word + affix(es) + adposition}


In Laz, three kinds of accents are distinguished that can be superimposed : stress-accent, pitch-accent, and length-accent (*). Accentuation has no incidence on the quality of vowels in Laz.


(*) Length accent : like accent rythmique in French.

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23.1.1. Nouns, pronouns, adjectives and adverbs


23.1.1.1. Simple words

23.1.1.2. Nouns + pronoun in the genitive case

23.1.1.3. Composed nouns

23.1.1.4. Nouns including a preverb


Verbal nouns, verbal adjectives and particles have the same accentuation rules than nouns, adjectives etc.

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23.1.1.1. Simple words


23.1.1.1.1. Monosyllabic words


Monosyllabic words (= here; nouns, pronouns, adjectives and adverbs) are always stress-pitch-length accented.


kva “stone”

n3a “sky”

m3’u ~ m3’k’o “endemic semper virens arborescent shrub of the Southwest Caucasus region producing eatable violet berry ; berry of this shrub”

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23.1.1.1.2. Polysyllabic words


A. Polyllabic words (= nouns, pronouns, adjectives and adverbs) having vowel-ending stem are generally stress-pitch-length-accented on the penultimate. Rare exceptions concern a small number of pronouns and an adverb.


bere “child”

nana “mother”

baba “father

sk’ani ~ skani “your (sg.)”

t’k’vani ~ tkvani “your (pl.)”

mç’ita “red”

dido (*) “much ; meany ; very”

(*)(This word is stress-pitch-accented, without length-accent.)

Exceptions : himuk (PZ) “that ; he” (*)

himu (ÇM)(AŞ) “that ; he ; to him” (*)

hamu (ÇM)(AŞ) “this ; he ; to him” (*)

hemuk (FN)(AH) “that ; he” (*)

~ emuk (HP)(ÇX)(AK)

zade (AŞ) “much ; meany ; very”


(*) There is no grammatical gender in Laz. We do not write “he or she or it” or “to him or to her or to it”


When case or plural markers are suffixed, the place of accent removes to the penultimate of the word.


bere “child”

bereşi “of the child”

berepek “children”

berepeşi “of the children”


B. Polyllabic words (= nouns, pronouns, adjectives and adverbs) having consonant-ending stem are stress-pitch-length-accented onthe last syllable of the stem.


k’amk’ul (ÇM) “musquito, gnat ; midge”

~ k’amk’uli (PZ)(AŞ)

~ k’ank’ul (AH-Pilarget, Sidere, Jin-Napşit)

~ k’ank’uli (FN)(AH)(HP)


oncğor (ÇM)(AH-Pilarget etc) “shame”

~ oncğore (PZ)(AŞ ~ ÇX)


In this case also, if case marker or plural marker are suffixed, the place of accent removes to the penultimate of the word.


k’amk’ulepe ~ k’ank’ulepe “musquitoes; gnats ; midges”

k’amk’ulepeşi ~ k’ank’ulepeşi “ of musquitoes; of gnats ; of modges”

oncğoreşi “of shame”

oncğorete(n) “by shame”

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23.1.1.2. Nouns + pronoun in the genitive case


If a noun is followed by a pronoun in the genitive case, the noun becomes non-accented and the pronoun in the genitive case is stress-pitch-length-accented.


nana-şk’imi ~ nana-çkimi “my mother”

baba-sk’ani ~ baba-skani “your (sg.) father”

bere-muşi “his child”


If case or plural markers are suffixed to the pronoun in the genitive case, accent removes to the penultimate of the nominal complex.


nana-şk’imişi ~ nana-çkimişi “of my mother”

baba-sk’anişi ~ baba-skanişi “of your (sg.) father”

bere-muşişi “of his child”

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23.1.1.3. Composed nouns


A. If the second membre of a composed noun is polysyllabic, the first membre becomung non-accented, the penultimate of the second membre is stress-pitch-length-accented.


axiri-p’ici (AŞ) “entry of cow-shed”

~ axi-p’ici (AH)

k’et’i-n3xeni “bicycle”


If a composed noun is followed by a pronoun in the genitive case poss:bly followed by a case marker, accent removes to the penultimate of the nominal complex.


k’et’i-n3xeni-şk’imi ~ k’et’i-n3xeni-çkimi “my bicycle”

k’et’i-n3xeni-şk’imişi ~ k’et’i-n3xeni-çkimişi “of my bicycle ”

k’et’i-n3xeni-şk’imite(n) ~ k’et’i-n3xeni-çkimite(n) “with my bicycle”


B. If the second membre of a composed noun is monosyllabic, the penultimate of the nominal complex, i.e. the last syllable of the first membre, is stress-oitch-accented. (*)


m3xuli-mca (PZ)(ÇM) “pear-tree”

  ~ m3xuli-nca (AŞ)

~ m3xulişi-nca (FN)(AH)(HP)


(*) It is possible that the syllable is stress-pitch-length-accented if the second membre begins by only one consonant. But we did not meat such an example of composed noun.


In this case also, if the composed noun is followed by a pronoun in the genitive case possibly followed by a case marker, the accent removes to the penultimate of the nominal complex.


mbuli-mca-şk’uni ~ mbuli-nca-şk’uni “our cherry-tree”

~ mbulişi-nca-çkuni ~ mbulişi-nca-çkini

mbuli-mca-şk’unişi ~ mbuli-nca-şk’unişi “of our cherry-tree”

~ mbulişi-nca-çkunişi ~ mbulişi-nca-çkinişi

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23.1.1.4. Nouns including a preverb


The rules of accentuation of nouns including a preverbe are identical to those of nouns without preverb according to the observation of the author of this study : saving exceptional cases, the preverb belonging to a nominal complex is non-accented even if it is systematically accented if it belongs to a verbal complex.


(■ The rules of accentuation of verbal nouns , verbal adjectives and participles including a preverb are identical to those of nouns in the same case.)


Generally, the penultimate is stress-pitch-length-accented.


Participles : gamaxveri “perforated”

goladveri ~ goladumeri “horizontally placed”


Nouns : k’o3’otvala (PZ)(ÇM)(AŞ) “apron”

~ go3’ak’ora (FN)

~ go3’ak’orale (AH-Lome)

~ go3’ok’orale (AH-Borğola)

~ go3’ak’iyu (HP)

~ go3’ak’irale (HP)

~ gu3’ak’ire (AK)


elazena (PZ)(ÇM) “slightly slanted flat ground”


dolondra3’eri (ÇM) “vertically caved”

~ dolont’raseri (AŞ-Ortaalan)

~ dolont’ra3eri (FN)(AH)

~ dolok’ufa (FN-Ç’anapet)

~ dolok’ut’ala (AH)”


If the part out of preverb is monosyllabic, the second syllable of the preverb becomes the penultimate of the nominal complex and is stress-pitch-accented. (*)


elagza (PZ ~ AŞ) “trail that goes up separating from a horizontal road”


(*) It is possible that the syllable is stress-pitch-length-accented if the second membre begins by only one consonant. But we did not meat such an example of noun.


If the noun including a preverb is followed by a pronoun in the genitive case possibly followed by a case marker, the accent removes to the penultimate of the nominal complex.

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23.1.2. Adpositions, conjunctions and quotation particles


23.1.2.1. Prepositions and Anteposed subordinative conjunctions

23.1.2.2. Postpositions and Postposed subordinative conjunctions

23.1.2.3. Circumpositions and Circumposed subordinative conjunctions

23.1.2.4. Ambiposition

23.1.2.5. Coordinative conjunctions and Quotation particles

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23.1.2.1. Prepositions and Anteposed subordinative conjunctions

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23.1.2.1.1. Monosyllabic prepositions and anteposed subordinative conjunctions


The preposition p’ri (ÇM ~ AŞ) (“a little while before”) and the homophonous anteposed subordinative conjunction p’ri (ÇM ~ AŞ) (“a little while before”) are stress-pitch-length accented.


p’ri mç’ima (ÇM ~ AŞ) “a little while before rain”


p’ri moxt’i (ÇM ~ AŞ) “a little while before he came”

  p’ri moxt’a (ÇM ~ AŞ) “a little while before he comes”

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23.1.2.1.2. Dysyllabic prepositions and anteposed subordinative conjunctions


The preposition muç’o (“as if”) and the homophonous anteposed subordinative conjunction muç’o (as soon as) are length-accented on the initial.


muç’o t’ik’ani “as if it were a lamb”

~ muç’o tik’ani


muç’o moxtu, “as soon as he came”

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23.1.2.2. Postpositions and Postposed subordinative conjunctions


23.1.2.2.1. Non-accented or “enclitic” postpositions and postposed subordinative conjunctions

23.1.2.2.2. Accented or “non-enclitic” postpositions and postposed subordinative conjunctions

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23.1.2.2.1. Non-accented or “enclitic” postpositions and postposed subordinative conjunctions


Most of postpositions and postposed subordinative conuonctions are non-accented or “enclitic”. (They are accented only when they are prononuced individually. Polysyllabic ones are accented on the penultimate.)


şk’imi şk’ala (PZ ~ AŞ) “with me”

~ çkimi k’ala (FN ~ ÇX)

vidi-sis (PZ)  “when I went”

~ vidi-si (ÇM)(AŞ)

~ bidi-si (AŞ)

~ bidi-su (AŞ)

~ bidi-(y)iz (FN)

~ bidi-şi (AH)

~ vidi-şi (HP)(ÇX)


vida-sis (PZ) “when I shall go”

~ vida-si (ÇM)(AŞ)

~ bida-si (AŞ)

~ bida-su (AŞ)

~ bida-(y)iz (FN)

~ bida-şi (AH)

~ vida-şi (HP)(ÇX)

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23.1.2.2.2. Accented or “non enclitic” postpositions and postposed subordinative conjunctions

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23.1.2.2.2.1. Stress-length-accented one


The complex postposed subordinative conjunction {do var}, which is observed only in the dialects of Ardeşen, is stress-length-accented.


Moxt’u do var, (AŞ) “as soon as he came”

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23.1.2.2.2.2. Length-accented ones


A. şk’imi şk’ule (PZ) “after me”

~ şk’imi şuk’ule (PZ)(ÇM)(AŞ)

~ şk’imi şik’ule (AŞ-Jilen-Mzğem)

~ şk’imden şuk’ule (AŞ)

~ çkimi şkule~ çkimden şkule (FN)

~ çkimi şkul~ çkimi şkule (AH)

~ çkimi şkule (HP)


The correponding postposition {k’ule} which is observed in the dialects of Çxala, is not accented or is not “enclitique”.

çkimi k’ule (ÇX) “after me”


B. na-mişk’un şuk’uri (PZ) “as far as I know”

~ na-mişk’un şuk’u (AŞ)(*)


(*) In Laz, polysyllabic words that are accented on the finale are very rare exceptions. By comparing with the form that is observed in the dialects of Pazar, we can reasonnably supose that the non-accented final syllable {-ri} may have been disappeared recently in the dialects of Ardeşen.

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23.1.2.3. Circumpositions and Circumposed subordinative conjunctions


The anteposed part of circumpositions and circumposed subordinative conuonctions is always stress-pitch-length-accented or stress-pitch-accented. If it is dysyllabic, the penultimate is accented.

The postposed part of circumpositions and circumposed subordinative conjunctions is non-accented if it is monosyllabic, but is length-accented on the penultimate if it is dysyllabic.


Stress-pitch-length-accented :


p’i moxt’i-şe (PZ-Noxlamsu) “a little while before you came”

~ p’i moxt’i-şa (PZ-Cigetore)


Stress-pitch-accented :


P’anda ezmoce st’eri borer. (AŞ) “it is as if I were in a dream”

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23.1.2.4. Ambiposition


The sole ambiposition dixo (“without”) of the Laz language is non-accented : it is “enclitic” or “proclitic” according to the case. It is observed only in western dialects.


sk’ani dixo ~ dixo sk’ani (PZ ~ AŞ) “without you (sg.)”

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23.1.2.5. Coordinative conjunctions (→ 7.) and Quotation particles (→ 8.) [See respective chapters for the examples of use.]


A. do “and”  non-accented


B. -ti “also”  non-accented and “enclitic” 


C. şa (FN ~AH) “then” non-accented and “enclitic”


D. vana “otherwise” stress-pitch-length-accented on the penultimate


E. ma “I said that” stress-length-accented


F. şo “you (or he) shall say that” stress-length-accented


G. ya “he said that ” stress-length-accented


The complex quotation particle {ya do} is stress-pitch-length-accented on the penultimate, i.e. on the first membre.


H. ki “that” non-accented

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23.1.3. Interjections


The accentuation rules of interjections are identical to those of nouns. The intonation of interjections will be studied when further fieldwork will be possible.

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23.1.4. Verbal complexes


23.1.4.1. Verbal complexes without preverb

23.1.4.2. Verbal complexes with preverb

23.1.4.3. Affirmation profixes, profix {na-} and prefix {var-} ~ {va-}


■ ■ ■ A Laz verbal complex can have more than one syllable accented.


The accentuation rules of verbal nouns, verbal adjectives and participles are identical to those of nouns.

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23.1.4.1. Verbal complexes without preverb


General principle : Verbal complexes without preverb are stress-pitch-accented on the penultimate. (Monosyllabic verbal complexes are accented on the final, in default of penultimate.)


xen “he is seated”

ulun “he goes”

imt’en “he runs away”

imxors ~ imxos ~ imxoy ~ impxors ~ ipxors “he eats”

içalişams ~ içalişay ~ içalişaps “he works”


Certain number of verbal complexes are stress-pitch-length-accented on the penultimate. The syllable receiving length-accent is always open. But all open syllables are not length-accented in the same situation.


idas ~ iday “I wish he went”

nagen “he meets”

t’axums ~ t’axuy ~ t’axups “he breaks”


Exceptions :


A. Verbs having two identical or similar syllables in their stem are stress-pitch-accented on the first of these syllables.


farfalams ~ farfalay (PZ ~ AŞ) “it scintillates ; it twincles”

ğarğalaps (HP)(ÇX) “he speaks”

~ ğağalaps (HP-Sarp)

şaşalams (PZ)(FN ~ AH-Lome) “it bubbles ; it purls”


B. Certain suffixes are “enclitic” (= are non-accented and have no incidence on the place of accent in the verbal complex).


B-1. Most of suffixes coming after post-stem are “enclitic”.


ulurte (ÇM-M3’anu) “you (pl.) go”

~ ulurtu (ÇM-Ğvant, AŞ)

ulurt’u “he was going”

uluran ~ ulunan “they go”

farfalamt’u (PZ ~ AŞ) “it was scintillating ; it was twincling”

arğalapt’it (HP ~ ÇX) “we were speaking”

~ bğağalapt’it (HP-Sarp)

p’t’axumt’aşa (PZ ~ FN) “when I break”

p’t’axumt’aşa (AH) “until I break”


B-2. The profix {na-} forming conditional or concessive clause is “enclitic”.


ulurna “if you (sg.) go”

ulurtna “if you (pl.) go”

idasna “if he goes”

idasenna “if he will go”

t’axuna “if he broke”


C. Certain suffixes are accented without having incidence on the place of accent in the verbal complex.


C.1. The interrogation marker {-i} is stress-length-accented and is accompanied by high-then-falling-down intonation.


ulurt-i ? “partez-vous ?”

ides-i ? “sont-ils partis ?”


C.2. The auditive-past-tense marker is accented without having any incidence on the place of accent in the verbal complex. Among its variants, donu (PZ) and do (ÇM) are stress-length-accented and doren (FN ~ AH) is only stress-accented.

In all cases, the preceding verb is stress-pitch-accented or stress-pitch-lengthaccented.


móxt’u-dot’u (PZ) “I heard that he came”

~ móxt’u-do (ÇM)

~ móxtu-doren (FN ~ AH)


C.3. The pluperfect marker is also accented without havinf any incidence on the place of accent in the verbal complex. Among its variants, dot’u (PZ) is stress-length-accented and dort’u ~ dot’t’un ~ dort’un are only stress-accented.


móxt’u-dot’u (PZ) “he had come”

~ móxt’u-dort’u (ÇM ~ AŞ)

~ móxtu-dot’t’un (FN)

~ móxtu-dort’un (FN ~ AH)


D. If the verb is in the future tense, the optatif marker {-a-} is length-accented and the preceding syllable is stress-pitch-accented.


p’t’áxare (PZ ~ AH) “I shall break”

~ p’t’áxa-minon (HP)(*)

~ p’t’áxaun (ÇX) (*)


vídare (PZ ~ AŞ) “I shall go”

~ bídare (AŞ ~ AH)

~ vída-minon (HP) (*)

~ vídaun (ÇX) (*)


(*) In the dialects of Hopa and Çxala, the formation of future tense is {verb in the optative mood + auxiliar verb unon ~ un}. The auxiliar verb is “enclitic”.


If the verb stem does not contain any vowel, the optative mood marker {-a-} is stress-pitch-length-accented.


-t’k’v- p’t’k’vare (PZ AŞ)(AH-Pilarget, Sidere, Jin-Napşit) “I shall say”

-tkv- ptkvare (FN AH) “I shall say

~ ptkva-minon (HP)

~ ptkvaun (ÇX) (*)


-ø- p’are (PZ ~ AH) “I shall do”

~ p’a-minon (HP)

~ p’aun (ÇX)

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23.1.4.2. Verbal complexes with preverb


A. The preverb is always accented on the last syllable. If the latter is contracted with the pre-stem vowel, the contracted vowel is accented. (The stem is mostly non-accented. But it keeps sometimes the length-accent.)

A.1. Stress-pitch-length-accent


govulur ~ gobulur “I take a walk”

elaxen ~ ilaxen “he is seated on a side”

amiğams ~ amiğay ~ amimers ~ amimars “he puts s.th. into”

amuğams ~ amuğay ~ amumers ~ amumars “he puts s.th. into s.th. for s.o.”

A.2. Stress-pitch-accent


gulun “he takes a walk”

mulun “he comes”

gamulun “he goes out”

elaxedun “he sits down on a side”


The stem of certain verbs is length-accented.


memagu “he met me”

mevagi ~ mebagi “I met him”


■■■ (FN)(AH)(HP) In the dialects of Fındıklı, Arhavi and Hopa, the verbe gámç’itanen « something belonging to him turns red completely » which begins by the preverb {go-} and the verb gamç’itánen « something belonging to you (sg.) turns red » are homographic but not homophonous because their accentuation is diffrent.


B. If the verb is in the future tense, the optative mood marker {-a-} is length-accented and the lst syllable of the preverb is stress-pitch-accented.


doloxt’asen ~ doloxtasen “he will go down to the bottom”

memagasen “he will meet me”

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23.1.4.3. Affirmation profixes, profix {na-} and prefix {var-} ~ {va-}


A. The affirmation profixes {o-}, {do-}, {menda-} and {ko-} ~ {ka-} ~ {ho-}~ {xo-} are always stress-pitch-accented on the last syllable. (The verb stem is generally non- accented. But it keeps sometimes the length-accent.)


opşk’omi (PZ ~ AŞ) “I have eaten”

~ op’ç’k’omi (FN ~ HP)

dot’axu “he has broken”

mendaxt’u ~ mendaxtu “he is gone”

komişk’un (PZ ~ AŞ) “I know surely”

~ komiçkin (FN ~ ÇX)


If the following part is monosyllabic, the affirmation profixes are stress-pitch-length-accented because they are on the penultimate in the verbal complex.


doyu ~ dou (PZ ~ AŞ) “he has done”

~ dovu (FN ~ AH)

koxen “he is seated”


B. The profix {na-}, forming conditional or concessive clause, is stress-pitch-accented. The following part keeps its proper accents.


na-pxer yeri   “the place where I am seated”

na-p’3’ili mbuli “the cherry that I gathered”


If the following verb is non-accented or “enclitic”, the profix {na-} is stress-pitch-length-accented.


ha3’i na-ren saat’epe (AH) “today’s watches”


In nominal complexes of [{na-} + verb + {-pe}] type, the plural marker has no incidence on the place of accent.


na-xeranpe “those who are seated”

na-zop’onspe (FN ~ AH) “things that he says”

na-oğodamspe (PZ)(FN ~ AH) “things that he does”


C. The profix {var-} ~ {va-}, which is negation marker, is always stress-pitch-accented. The following part of verbal complex is stress-pitch-length-accented or stress-pitch-accented or only pitch-accented.


vár-alímben (PZ) “he does not like”

~ vár-aorópen (ÇM ~ AŞ)

~ vár-óroms (FN ~ AH)

~ vár-x’órops (HP ~ ÇX)


vá-mişk’un (PZ ~ AŞ) “I do not know”

~ vá-miçkin (FN ~ ÇX)


If the following part is non-accented or “enclitic”, the profix of negation is stress-pitch-length-accented.


vá-ren (FN ~ AH) “he is not ; there is not”

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23.2. Intonation 

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