The Language Spoken by the Alans: An Exploration in Historical Linguistics

Introduction

The ancient group of nomadic people known as the Alans primarily spoke an Eastern Iranian language. This language, often referred to as Alanic, is a part of the larger group of Iranian languages derived from the Indo-Iranian branch. Despite the mobility and cultural exchanges associated with the Alans, the specifics of this language, its development, and its exact nature remain relatively poorly documented. This article explores the available evidence and provides insights into the Alanic language spoken by this ancient tribe.

Historical Accounts and Linguistic Evidence

Most of what is known about the Alanic language comes from historical accounts and linguistic studies of Iranian languages. One of the most significant pieces of evidence is a text found by a Byzantine poet who was married to an Alan woman. The text, written in Alanic, translates to: "I greet the Alans in their language."

Another important source is a Greek text called Prophetologion which contains 30 marginal notes in Alanic, also classified as an Iranian language and the predecessor of modern Ossetian.

Language Classification and Ancestry

The Alanic language is classified as 100% Iranian and is considered the immediate ancestor of today#39;s Ossetian. This classification is further supported by the fact that the Alans were a subtribe of the Sarmatians, one of the most prominent nomadic tribes of the Eurasian steppes.

The Sarmatians, including the Alans, were Indo-European in origin and spoke an Eastern Iranian language. An additional piece of evidence is a Jassic text sample found in Hungary in 1422. The analyses of this text indicate that the Jassic tribe, ancestral to the modern Ossetians, was indeed a nomadic Sarmatian tribe.

Lexical Data and Cultural Exchange

The Alanic language has left a lasting impact on the modern Ossetian language, with many common terms and phrases shared between the two. The following table showcases some examples:

Alanic to Ossetian Lexical Equivalents

Alanic Word Modern Ossetian Word Translation Duck Acca Acc Day Ban Bon A soup Basa Bas Horse Bax Baex Butter Carif Sarv carv Water Dan Don Yours Da Dae Cow Docega Dusgae docgae Meat Fit Fyd fid Sheep Fus Fys fus Bull Gal Gal A cheese Gist Aengist Farmer Hecav XiSAw Xecaw Millet Huvar Xor xwar Hay Huvas Xos xwasae Egg Jaika Ajka ajka Fish Kapken Kaef Chicken Karak Kark Mush Kasa Kash kasae Mill Kurajna Kwyroj kurojnae Bread K’ever K’aebaer Wheat Manavona Maenaew maenaewae Our Na Nae Spoon Odok Widyg jedug Yeast Oras Waeras Woman Osa Us osae Goose Qaz Qazh qaz Oat Sabar Zab Goat Saka Shaegwyt Wine Sana Saen saenae Plate Tabac Taebaeg Calf Vas Waess

These examples highlight the linguistic continuity between Alanic and Ossetian, reflecting the rich cultural and linguistic heritage of the Alans.

Conclusion

The Alans, a nomadic group of Iranian origin, spoke an Eastern Iranian language known as Alanic. This language, now extinct, is classified as Iranian and is the immediate ancestor of modern Ossetian. Despite the few historical records and linguistic studies, the Alanic language provides valuable insights into the ancient cultural and linguistic landscape of the Eurasian steppes. The lexical data presented here not only illustrate the linguistic continuum but also the profound impact of the Alans on the Ossetian language and culture.