Tevfik Esenç
Tevfik Esenç | |
|---|---|
Tevfik Esenç, aged 57 | |
| Born | 1904 |
| Died | (aged 88) |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Known for | being the last native speaker of Ubykh |
| Movement | Circassian nationalism |
Tevfik Esenç (Turkish pronunciation: [tevˈfic esɛnt͡ʃ]; 1904 – 7 October 1992) was a Turkish citizen of Ubykh origin, known for being the last speaker of the Ubykh language. He was fluent in Ubykh, Adyghe and Turkish. After his death in 1992, the Ubykh language went extinct despite the efforts and work of numerous linguists to revive it. Nevertheless, Esenç is single-handedly responsible for the world's current knowledge of Ubykh language and culture being as extensive and detailed as it is.