Editing Svan language (section)

{{Short description|Kartvelian language of northwestern Georgia}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox language
| name             = Svan
| map              = Kartvelian_languages.svg
| nativename       = {{lang|sva|ლუშნუ ნინ}} ''Lušnu nin''
| pronunciation    = {{IPA|ka|ˈɫuʃnu nin|}}
| states           = [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]
| region           = [[Svaneti]]<br/>[[Abkhazia]]
| ethnicity        = [[Svans]]
| speakers         = 14,000
| date             = 2015
| ref              = e18
| familycolor      = Caucasian
| fam1             = [[Kartvelian languages|Kartvelian]]
| script           = [[Georgian script]]
| map2             = Lang Status 60-DE.svg
| mapcaption2      = {{center|{{small|Svan is classified as Definitely Endangered by the [[UNESCO]] ''[[Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger]]''}}}}
| iso3             = sva
| glotto           = svan1243
| glottorefname    = Svan
| notice           = IPA
}}

'''Svan''' ({{lang|sva|ლუშნუ ნინ}} ''lušnu nin''; {{lang-ka|სვანური ენა|tr}}) is a [[Kartvelian languages|Kartvelian]] language spoken in the western [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] region of [[Svaneti]] primarily by the [[Svans|Svan people]].<ref>Levinson, David. Ethnic Groups Worldwide: A Ready Reference Handbook. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1998. p 34</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Tuite|first=Kevin|author-link=Kevin Tuite|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/22492614|title=Encyclopedia of World Cultures|date=1991–1996|publisher=G.K. Hall|isbn=0-8168-8840-X|editor-last=Friedrich|editor-first=Paul|volume=VI|location=Boston, Mass.|pages=343|chapter=Svans|oclc=22492614|editor-last2=Diamond|editor-first2=Norma}}</ref> With its speakers variously estimated to be between 30,000 and 80,000, the [[UNESCO]] designates Svan as a "definitely [[endangered language]]".<ref>[http://www.unesco.org/culture/languages-atlas/en/atlasmap/language-id-1058.html UNESCO Interactive Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger]</ref> It is of particular interest because it has retained many features that have been lost in the other Kartvelian languages.