Page Type: languageKalmyk-Oirat | Ethnologue

XAL ISO 639-3

Kalmyk-Oirat

хальмг келн‎ (Xaľmg keln) Autonym

A language of Russian Federation

ISO 639
xal
Alternate Names
European Oirat, Kalmack, Kalmuck, Kalmuk, Kalmytskii Jazyk, Khalli, Oirat, Qalmaq, Volga Oirat, Western Mongolian
Autonym
хальмг келн‎ (Xaľmg keln)
Population
80,500 in Russian Federation (2010 census). Ethnic population: 183,000 (2010 census). Total users in all countries: 431,800.
Location:
Kalmykia republic; Astrakhan province; and Stavropol krai; Volga-Don steppes northwest of the Caspian, north of the Caucasus. West Kalmykia republic (Dörböt dialect); east, lower Volga region, Astrakhan province (Torgut dialect).
Language Status
2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Republic of Kalmykia (1999, Law on the Languages of the Republic of Kalmykia, Article 3), Co-official with Russian.
Classification
Mongolic, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Oirat-Kalmyk-Darkhat
Dialects
Buzawa, Oirat (Oyrat), Torgut (Torghoud, Torghud, Torguud, Torguut), Dörböt (Derbet, Dörbet, Dörböd). Diverged from other Mongolian languages. Called Kalmyk in the Russian Federation; Oirat in China and Mongolia; in the United States, Kalmyk not heavily influenced by Russian [rus]. Different from other varieties in China called Oirat [xal], which are sometimes called Asiatic Oirat. In Mongolia, some scholars consider Oirat to be a dialect of Halh Mongolian [khk].
Language Use
91% speak it as L1. Some young people, all adults. A few children learn the language. Also use Central Tibetan [bod], in religious domains. Also use Russian [rus].
Language Development
Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1827–2009.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kalmyk-Oirat
Writing
Cyrillic script [Cyrl], adopted in 1924, used in Russia and Mongolia. Mongolian script [Mong], Todo style, used in China.
Other Comments
The modern literary language is mainly based on the Torgut dialect, though it incorporates a large number of concessions to Dörböt. Buddhist.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Kalmyk-Oirat
User Population
130,000 in China (Salminen 2007).
Location
Gansu province: northern border area; Nei Mongol Autonomous Region: Alashan league; Qinghai province: Kukunor region, Lake Qinghai northwest; Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region: Jungaria region.
Dialects
Torgut (Torghut, Tu’erhute), Kök Nur (Qinghai), Jakhachin, Bayit, Mingat, Olot (Eleuth, Elyut, Ööld), Khoshut (Khoshuud), Dorbot, Henan.
Language Status
7 (Shifting)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of China
Language Name
Kalmyk-Oirat
User Population
300 in Kyrgyzstan (2009 census). Ethnic population: 4,200 (2009 census).
Location
Ysyk-Kol region.
Dialects
Oirat (Sart Qalmaq).
Language Status
8a (Moribund)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Kyrgyzstan
Language Name
Oirat
User Population
221,000 in Mongolia (2016). 53,400 Bayit, 74,600 Durbet, 12,200 Khoton, 6,300 Myangad, 13,400 Olot, 15,000 Torguud, 26,100 Uriankhai, and 31,600 Zakhchin (2016, based on 2015 census).
Location
Arhangay, and Bayan-Olgiy, Dzavhan, Hovd, Hovsgol, Govi-Altay, and Uvs provinces.
Dialects
Zakhchin (Jakhachin), Bayit (Bayad), Myangad (Mingat), Olot (Eleuth, Elyut, Uuld, Ööld), Khoshut (Khoshuud), Uriankhai, Khoton (Hoton), Durbet (Durvud), Torguud.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Khoton (Hoton) originally of Turkic origin (Kara 1990), and were Muslim. Different from Chinese-speaking Qotong (Hoton) [cmn].
View other languages of Mongolia

Map

Location: Kalmykia republic; Astrakhan province; and Stavropol krai; Volga-Don steppes northwest of the Caspian, north of the Caucasus. West Kalmykia republic (Dörböt dialect); east, lower Volga region, Astrakhan province (Torgut dialect).