Kuchean language

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Kuchean
Tocharian B
Kuśiññe
Tocharian inscription "This Buddha was painted by the hand of Sanketava"
Native toKucha
RegionTarim Basin
EthnicityTocharians
Extinct9th century AD
Indo-European
  • Proto-Tocharian
Language codes
ISO 639-3txb
xtb Tocharian B
Glottologtokh1243
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Kuchean (also known as Tocharian B or West Tocharian) was a Western member of the Tocharian branch of Indo-European languages, extinct from the ninth century. Once spoken in the Tarim Basin in Central Asia, Tocharian B shows an internal chronological development; three linguistic stages have been detected.[1] The oldest stage is attested only in Kucha. There is also the middle ('classicalʼ), and the late stage.[2]

Nomenclature

Acorrding to Peyrot, the self-designation for the language was kuśi 'Kuča'.[3] In scholarly works, it is known as West Tocharian or Kuchean.[4]

Overview

According to scholar Michael Peyrot, Tocharian B is dated between the 5th and 10th centuries AD, and was spread from

Turfan.[5] Paul Widmer, following Tamai's and Adams's studies, situates Tocharian B roughly between 400 and 1200, its oldest layer dating from ca. 400 to 600, around "Kucha and environs".[6]

Documentation

According to J. H. W. Penney, Tocharian B is reported to be documented as Buddhist religious literature, and as secular material "pertaining to everyday life".[7]

References

  1. ^ Peyrot 2008, p. [page needed].
  2. ^ Peyrot, Michaël (2015). "Tocharian Language". Encyclopædia Iranica.
  3. ^ Peyrot, Michaël. “Tocharian”. In: The Indo-European Language Family: A Phylogenetic Perspective. Edited by Thomas Olander. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2022. p. 83. doi:10.1017/9781108758666.006.
  4. .
  5. ^ Peyrot, Michaël. “Tocharian”. In: The Indo-European Language Family: A Phylogenetic Perspective. Edited by Thomas Olander. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2022. p. 83. doi:10.1017/9781108758666.006.
  6. .
  7. .

Bibliography

Studies
Tocharian literature

Further reading

External links