Altai, Southern | Ethnologue

A language of Russian Federation

ISO 639: alt
Alternate Names: Altai, Oirot, Oyrot
Autonym: алтай тили‎ (Altay tili), алтайча‎ (Altajča)
Population: 57,400 (2010 census). Ethnic population: 74,200 (2010 census). Includes Northern Altai [atv].
Location:: Altai republic: Gorno-Altai Ao mountains, along China and Mongolia border.
Language Status: 2 (Provincial).
Classification: Turkic, Northern
Dialects: Altai Proper (Altai-Kizhi, Altaj Kizi, Maina-Kizhi, Southern Altai), Talangit (Chuy, Talangit-Tolos, Telengit), Teleut. No intelligiblility of Northern Altai [atv].
Language Use: Home, and with other Altai. Used by all. Also use Russian [rus].
Language Development: Written Altai based on Southern Altai, but is rejected by Northern Altai children. Taught in primary schools as a medium in a few schools and as a subject in a few schools. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2003.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Altai, Southern
Writing: Cyrillic script [Cyrl]. Mongolian script [Mong].
Other Comments: Different from Oirat [xal] (Kalmyk-Oirat), a Mongolian language. Traditional religion.

Location: Altai republic: Gorno-Altai Ao mountains, along China and Mongolia border.