Mordvinic languages

The Mordvinic languages,^[1] alternatively Mordvin languages,^[2] or Mordvinian languages, (Russian: Mordovskie yazyki, the official Russian term for the language pair)^[3] are a subgroup of the Uralic languages, comprising the closely related Erzya language and Moksha language.^[4] Previously considered a single "Mordvin language",^[5] it is now treated as a small language family. Due to differences in phonology, lexicon, and grammar, Erzya and Moksha are not mutually intelligible, to the extent that Russian language is often used for intergroup communications.^[6]

The two Mordvinic languages also have separate literary forms. The Erzya literary language was created in 1922 and the Mokshan in 1923.^[7]

Phonological differences between the two languages include:^[5]

• Moksha retains a distinction between the vowels /ɛ, e/ while in Erzya, both have merged as /e/.
• In unstressed syllables, Erzya features vowel harmony like many other Uralic languages, using [e] in front-vocalic words and [o] in back-vocalic words. Moksha has a simple schwa [ə] in their place.
• Word-initially, Erzya has a postalveolar affricate /tʃ/ corresponding to a fricative /ʃ/ in Moksha.
• Next to voiceless consonants, liquids /r, rʲ, l, lʲ/ and the semivowel /j/ are devoiced in Moksha to [r̥ r̥ʲ l̥ l̥ʲ ȷ̊].

The medieval Muromian language may have been Mordvinic, or close to Mordvinic.

References