ABSTRACT
The Northwest Caucasian (NWC) languages have very simple vowel systems. Phonetically there is a profusion of vowels to be heard in any one of these languages. A vertical vowel system is extracted from such a rich phonetic inventory by attributing such vocalic differences to the influence of the surrounding consonants; in fact it is this reinterpretation of the vowels that is responsible, in part, for the formulation of the large consonantal systems. The articulatory theory of vertical vowel systems presented accounts for a very interesting aspect of the NWC phonological system. Ubykh shows fewer tendencies to raise its vowels, being similar to Besleney in this respect, and Abaza and the Abkhaz languages appear to follow Ubykh. Abaza and Abkhaz may have a slightly lower norm than in the other languages of the family. There are a small number of roots, rare in the Circassian languages though more frequent in Ubykh that appear to lack a vowel in their underlying forms.
