The Lazuri (Laz) language – which is spoken primarily along the southeastern coast of the Black Sea in Turkey – has been identified by UNESCO as a “language in danger”.

According to UNESCO’s Endangered Languages report, the Lazuri (Laz) South Caucasian language has been accorded the status of one of the world’s “languages in danger”. The Laz Institute has also published a report – ‘Living Languages and Dialects: Elective Laz Language Course’ – that covers the years from 2013-2020. The report confirms that the Laz language is increasingly endangered.

The Laz Institute report states that the Laz language has been taught in schools as an elective course since 2013 under Ministry of National Education in Turkey. Secondary school students in the districts of Rize and Istanbul take two-hour lessons each week. However, the report noted that there are currently no permanent Laz language teachers in the schools. The report recommends the opening of departments such as ‘Laz Language, Literature and Teaching’ departments at universities, as it will contribute to the usage of the language and support its development.