2,596,000 (1995). Mongolian People's Republic, Bügd Nayramdakh Mongol Ard Uls. Literacy rate 89% to 90%. Also includes Japanese, Korean, Westerners. Information mainly from Sebeok 1967, Poppe 1970. Data accuracy estimate: A2. Secular, Lamaist Buddhist, Muslim185. Blind population 4,000 (1982 WCE). Deaf population 10,000. The number of languages listed for Mongolia is 12.
BURIAT, MONGOLIA (BURYAT, BURIAT-MONGOLIAN, NORTHERN MONGOLIAN, MONGOLIAN BURIAT, BUR:AAD) [BXM] 64,900 (1995), 2.5% of the population (1985 estimate). Northeast, especially bordering Buryat ASSR. Altaic, Mongolian, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Khalkha-Buriat, Buriat. Dialects: KHORI, AGA. Not a literary language in Mongolia. Halh Mongolian is used as a literary language; speakers are fully literate in Halh. There are some books in Buriat. Buriat in Mongolia is a variety of Khori, and differs considerably from Buriat of China and Russia. The language has been influenced by Standard (Halh) Mongolian. Traditionally shamanist and Buddhist lamaist; now largely atheist. Work in progress.
CHINESE, MANDARIN (HOTON, QOTONG, HUI-ZU, HUI, XUI, NORTHERN CHINESE, MANDARIN, HYATAD) [CHN] 35,000 in Mongolia (1993 Johnstone), including 2,000 Qotong (1982 estimate); 885,000,000 in all countries. Northwestern Mongolia, Uvs Aimag. Also China, many other countries. Sino-Tibetan, Chinese. People are mostly fully literate in Halh Mongolian or Mandarin. Those who are traditionally Sunni Muslim in China (Hui) are known as 'Qotong' (Hoton) in Mongolia, 'Dungan' in Kyrgyzstan, 'Hui' in Thailand. The majority of Chinese in Mongolia are not Muslim. Distinct from Khoton (Hoton) of Mongolia. Bible 1874-1983. NT 1857-1981. Bible portions 1864-1986.
DARKHAT [DAY] 4,500 (1956 census). Hövsgöl Aimag, north Mongolia, around Lake Khubsugul. Altaic, Mongolian, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Oirat-Kalmyk-Darkhat. One of the Oirat peoples. May be intelligible with Halh Mongolian. Some influences from Oirat and possibly the Buriat languages. Speakers are fully literate and bilingual in Halh Mongolian. Distinct from Darkhan, which refers to southern Khalkha people in Ulanchab league, Inner Mongolia, China, and to Khorchin people in eastern Inner Mongolia. Originally shamanist, then Lamaist Buddhist, now largely atheist.
EVENKI (KHAMNIGAN, TUNGUS, SOLON) [EVN] 2,000 in Mongolia (1982 estimate); 12,000 in Russia (1979); 10,000 in China (1990); 24,000 in all countries. Selenge Aimag, north Mongolia. Altaic, Tungus, Northern, Evenki. It has literary status in Russia and official regional recognition in China. People are literate in Halh Mongolian in Mongolia. Shamanist, Lamaist Buddhist. Work in progress.
KALMYK-OIRAT (OIRAT, WESTERN MONGOL) [KGZ] 205,500 in Mongolia, including 139,000 Oirat, 55,100 Dorbot, 11,400 Torgut; 174,000 in Russia; 139,000 Oirat in China; 518,000 in all countries. Also in Taiwan, Germany, USA. Altaic, Mongolian, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Oirat-Kalmyk-Darkhat. Dialects: JAKHACHIN, BAYIT, MINGAT, OLOT (ÖÖLD, ELYUT, ELEUTH), KHOSHUT (KHOSHUUD), URIANKHAI, KHOTON (HOTON). Khoton (Hoton) were originally of Turkic origin (G. Kara). They were once Muslim. Different from the Chinese-speaking Qotong (Hoton). NT 1827-1894, out of print. Bible portions 1815-1887. Work in progress.
KAZAKH (KAZAKHI, QAZAQ, QAZAQI, KAZAX, KAISAK, KOSACH) [KAZ] 120,000 (1993 Johnstone), 4% of population in Mongolia (1991); 6,556,000 in Kazakhstan (1979); 1,111,718 in China (1990); 3,000 in Iran; 2,000 in Afghanistan; 600 or more in Turkey (1982); 8,000,000 or more in all countries. Bayan-Olgiy Aimag, northwest Mongolia, mining communities east of the capital, and in far east around Choibalsan. Also in Germany. Altaic, Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian. An official literary language in Mongolia; Cyrillic script used. Traditionally Muslim, but now largely atheist with Muslim traditions and occultism. NT 1820-1910, out of print. Bible portions 1818-1989. Work in progress.
MONGOLIAN SIGN LANGUAGE [QMM] Unknown number of users out of 10,000 deaf (1993). Deaf sign language. Diffferent from Russian Sign Language and other sign languages. Survey needed.
MONGOLIAN, HALH (HALH, KHALKHA MONGOLIAN, MONGOL, CENTRAL MONGOLIAN) [KHK] 2,329,000 in Mongolia (1995), 89.7% of the population, including 32,300 Dariganga; 6,000 in Taiwan; 1,774 in Russia (1959); 2,330,000 in all countries. Buryat ASSR of Russia and Issyk-Kul Oblast of Kyrghyzstan. Altaic, Mongolian, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Khalkha-Buriat, Mongolian Proper. Dialects: HALH (KHALKHA), DARIGANGA, KHOTOGOIT, SARTUL, TSONGOL. Halh serves as the basis for modern literary Mongolian. Cyrillic alphabet. Ethnic Zahchin (Dzakhachin, Jakhachin 24,700 or 1.3%), Mingat (possibly 4,000; 1984), Bayad (Bayit, Bait, 39,900 or 2.1%), Oold (Oolet, Olot, 11,400 or .6%), are bilingual and literate in Halh Mongolian. National language. Traditionally pastoralists, now many industrialists. Originally shamanist, then Lamaist Buddhist, now largely atheist. NT 1990. Bible portions 1979-1991.
MONGOLIAN, PERIPHERAL (SOUTHERN-EASTERN MONGOLIAN) [MVF] (3,381,000 in China; 1982 estimate). Altaic, Mongolian, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Khalkha-Buriat, Mongolian Proper. Dialects: UJUMCHIN (UZEMCHIN, UJUMUCHIN), JOSTU (KHARCHIN, KHARACHIN), TUMUT (TUMET), JIRIM (KHORCHIN), URAT, ORDOS. The people are bilingual and literate in Halh Mongolian. NT 1952. Work in progress.
RUSSIAN (RUSSKI) [RUS] 4,000 in Mongolia (1993 Johnstone); 160,000,000 in all countries. Also in Russia and other republics of the former USSR, China, Israel, USA, Canada, eastern Europe. Indo-European, Slavic, East. Russians who are permanent residents are called 'Mectny Oros'. Widely taught in schools and for higher education. Mainly atheist, many occultist. Bible 1680-1993. NT 1821-1946. Bible portions 1815-1993.
TUVIN (URIANKHAI, URYANKHAI-MONCHAK, TUVINIAN, TUVA, TUBA, TANNU-TUVA, SOYON, SOYOD, SOYOT, TUVAN, TUVIA, DIBA, KÖK MUNGAK, TUVA-URIANKHAI, TUWA-URIANKHAI) [TUN] 27,000 (1993 Johnstone), 1.3% of the population in Mongolia (1985 estimate); 206,000 in Russia (1993); 400 in China (1990); 233,400 in all countries. Hövsgöl and Hovd Aimags, north and west Mongolia. Altaic, Turkic, Northern. Dialects: KOKCHULUTAN, KHÖWSÖGÖL UIGUR. Has literary status in Russia. People are literate in Halh in Mongolia. Sharp dialect differences. Buddhist. Work in progress.
UYGHUR (UIGHUR, UYGUR, UIGUR, UIGHUIR, UIGUIR) [UIG] 1,000 in Mongolia (1982 estimate); 7,214,431 in China (1990 census); 245,000 in Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Uzbekistan (1986 estimate); 3,000 in Afghanistan; 500 or more in Turkey (1981); a few hundred families of traders in Pakistan; 7,464,000 in all countries. Hövsgöl Aimag, north Mongolia. Also possibly Iran, Taiwan. Altaic, Turkic, Eastern. Literacy is in Halh in Mongolia and the Uyghur are generally assimilated to Halh culture. Sunni Muslim. Bible 1950. NT 1914-1939. Bible portions 1898-1995. Work in progress.
Part of the Ethnologue, 13th Edition, Barbara F. Grimes, Editor.
Copyright © 1996, Summer Institute of Linguistics, Inc. All rights reserved.
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