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Similar Natukhajs, Shapsugs, Ubykh people | ||
The Besleney (Circassian: Бэслъыный Besłynyj [basɬənəj]; Russian: Бесленеевцы Besleneevcy), also known as Beslenei or Baslaney, are one of the twelve tribes (sub-ethnic groups) of the Circassian (Adyghe) people. It was named after Kabardian Prince Beslan who established his own tribe of the same name.
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History
The majority of the Besleney live in the valley of Bolshaya and Malaya Laba Rivers in the Northwest Caucasus, and on the bank of Urup. They also extend to the valleys of Chetem, Fars, Psefir, Kuban (Western Circassia). By character and culture besides the language, the Besleney are closest to Kabardians. The noble families of the Besleney were: Kanoko, Tazartuk, and Shaloho, ancestors of Beslan, the son of legendary Prince Inal.
Language
The Besleney people speak the Besleney sub-dialect (Adyghe: Бэслъыныйбзэ) of Kabardian Adyghe dialect (East Circassian). However, because the Besleney tribe lived at the center of Circassia, the Besleney dialect also shares a large number of features with dialects of West Adyghe dialect. Like the Adyghe Shapsug sub-dialect, there exist a palatalized voiced velar plosive [ɡʲ], a palatalized voiceless velar plosive [kʲ] and a palatalized velar ejective [kʲʼ], which were merged to [d͡ʒ], [t͡ʃ] and [t͡ʃʼ] in other Circassian dialects. The Besleney dialect also have an alveolar lateral ejective affricate [t͡ɬʼ], which corresponds to an alveolar lateral ejective fricative [ɬʼ] in most other varieties of Circassian. The Besleney dialect have a voiceless glottal fricative [h] that corresponds to [x] in other Circassian dialects.