Адыгэ пхъэлъантхъуэ / The Hearth Tree

РЕДКОЛЛЕГИЕМ КЪЫБГЪЭДЭКIЫУ
[From the Editorial Board]
This is the first volume (pilot edition) of the new journal The Hearth
Tree: Circassian Cultural Miscellany. It is the first online periodical that
is designed to systematically publish in Circassian and English. The
bilingual publication is devised to be legible by readers of either
language (readers of both languages get double benefit). Circassian
materials are presented in the literary languages used in Circassia,
namely Adigean and Kabardian (strictly speaking Kabardian-Cherkess),
and other extant dialects. Cyrillic orthography is used throughout for
Circassian texts. Latin transcription for Circassian is used at times in
addition to Cyrillic.
SPINDOX for Research and Publication has as one of its principal
missions the dissemination and development of Circassian language and
culture. All workers in this enterprise firmly believe in the richness of
Circassian culture and deem it as deserving a decent place amongst
world cultures. That it is relatively obscure on the world stage is the
result of several factors, not least of which is the severalty of the
Circassian republics and regions in the Caucasus and the non-existence
of a unified and strong Circassian state. The Circassians are divided into
no less than six entities (the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Karachai-
Cherkess Republic, Republic of Adigea, Shapsugh Region, Stavropol
Krai, Krasnodar Krai, and the Mozdok Region of the Republic of North
Ossetia, where Christian Circassians live). The reintegration of these
republics and regions is a necessary first step towards the regeneration of
the Circassian nation and civilization.
The Circassian language is subject to tremendous pressures and
challenges, even in the heartland of Circassia. Simply put, the factors
that facilitate the acquisition of the Circassian language as a utile
language are being diluted. In the diaspora the language is being lost at
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