Along the dramatic eastern Black Sea coast of Turkey, where steep, forested mountains meet the sea, thrives a distinct cultural group with its own unique language: the Laz people. Their language, Lazuri, is not a dialect of Turkish, but a member of the Kartvelian language family, making it a relative of Georgian. This linguistic fact alone points to a rich, separate heritage that has developed for centuries in this specific coastal region, often less visible to those unfamiliar with the area's diverse cultural makeup. Understanding the Laz and their language offers a fascinating insight into the complexities of identity and the importance of linguistic diversity within a larger nation.

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For us, Ola and Riza, learning about the Laz people was a key part of understanding the true cultural richness of Turkey's Black Sea region.

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It highlights how national borders don't always perfectly align with cultural or linguistic boundaries and prompts important questions: What does it mean to maintain a distinct cultural identity in the modern world? How are unique languages and traditions kept alive? This exploration delves into the story of the Laz people, their language, and their place in the vibrant tapestry of the Black Sea coast.

Who are the Laz? A people of the eastern Black Sea

The Laz (Lazlar in Turkish) are an indigenous people whose historical homeland, often referred to as Lazistan, stretches across the modern-day border between northeastern Turkey (primarily in parts of Rize and Artvin provinces) and southwestern Georgia. They have lived in this coastal region, with its challenging mountainous terrain and humid climate, for many centuries, possibly even thousands of years. Traditionally, they were known as skilled boat builders, fishermen, and growers of crops suited to the region's unique environment.

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The most defining marker of Laz identity is their language, Lazuri (or Lazca). As a Kartvelian language, it shares ancient roots with Georgian, Svan, and Mingrelian (other languages in the same family spoken in the Caucasus region), but it is not understandable to a Turkish speaker (as Turkish belongs to a completely different language family, the Turkic languages). This linguistic distinction is fundamental to understanding their unique cultural heritage.

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Over centuries, the Laz people have interacted with various empires and cultures that held power in the Black Sea region, including the Byzantines and later the Ottomans, often keeping a degree of local independence due to their remote and rugged territory. While most Laz in Turkey today are Sunni Muslims, their cultural practices, music, dances (like the energetic horon), and some social customs often retain distinct regional characteristics.

A language under pressure: Challenges to Lazuri

Like many minority languages around the world, Lazuri is currently considered endangered by organisations like UNESCO. The pressures of modern life, people moving to cities (urbanisation), the dominance of the national language (Turkish) in education and media, and migration from rural Laz-speaking areas to larger cities have all led to a decline in the number of fluent Lazuri speakers, especially among younger generations. For many decades, there was also limited official support or recognition for the language within Turkey, as national policy often aimed to promote a more unified Turkish identity.

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When a language is lost, it's not just a collection of words that disappears. Language is a primary carrier of culture, history, unique ways of seeing the world, spoken traditions, poetry, music, and a community's collective memory. The potential loss of Lazuri means the potential loss of an irreplaceable part of the Black Sea's, and indeed the world's, cultural variety.

Seeds of revival: Efforts to preserve Laz culture and language

Despite these challenges, in recent decades there has been a growing awareness and effort, both within the Laz community and among supportive researchers and cultural activists, to preserve and bring new life to Lazuri and Laz culture. These efforts include the formation of Laz cultural associations to promote the language and traditions.

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Laz musicians and artists are increasingly using Lazuri in their work, bringing it to wider audiences; the distinctive sound of the kemençe (a small, three-stringed fiddle characteristic of Black Sea music) is often a prominent feature in this music. Scholars and community members have also worked to document Lazuri, create dictionaries, and publish materials in the language.

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Furthermore, the internet has provided new platforms for Laz speakers to connect, share resources, and promote their language and culture. These efforts, though often facing limited resources, represent a vital movement to ensure that this unique heritage is not lost to future generations. They highlight a growing understanding within Turkey and globally about the importance of valuing and protecting linguistic and cultural diversity.

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Recognising and understanding the story of the Laz people and their unique Kartvelian language enriches our perception of Turkey's Black Sea coast. It reveals a layer of cultural complexity and historical depth that often remains less visible to the casual visitor, reminding us that national borders do not always neatly contain distinct cultural and linguistic groups. The effort to preserve such unique heritages is a vital endeavour, ensuring that diverse voices and perspectives continue to be part of our shared human story.

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