Tocharian A, the relatively uniform language attested in texts of almost exclusively religious content, from Šorčuq and Turfan.
Description
Tocharian A texts come from the Šorčuq and Turfan areas and do not date before the 7th c. CE. There is continuing debate as to whether the language was still spoken at this time, but there is no evidence that Tocharian A speakers ever lived to the west of Šorčuq. The Turfan texts exhibit a few minor linguistic peculiarities, suggesting that there were once actual living Tocharian A speech communities in both places.
Note on geographical location
Set at a point geographically roughly intermediate between the two main areas where Tocharian A texts have been found: Šorčuq and Turfan.
