The Secret Tongue of Warriors: Ossetian Language of the Chase

Abstract

In the Ossetian Nart Epic, there are mentions of the xatiag language (xatiag yvzag, xatiagaw) which was used on particular occasions (such as chase, raids, hunting, etc.) as a secret means of communication between people who shared the knowledge of its specific vocabulary. According to the Ossetian Nart Epic, the principal features characterizing that language consisted in the fact that it was: 1) ancient; 2) secret; 3) widespread; and 4) easy to master.