AINU: a language of Japan

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: AIN

ISO 639-2: mis

Population	15 active speakers (1996 Alexander Vovin). In the ethnic group: 15,000 in Japan. Population total both countries 15.
Region	Kuril Islands (Tsishima), Hokkaido. Formerly also on south Sakhalin Island, Russia. Also spoken in Russia (Asia).
Alternate names	AINU ITAK
Dialects	TSISHIMA, SAKHALIN.
Classification	Language Isolate.
Comments	The last speaker of Sakhalin dialect died in 1994. There were at least 19 dialects. Bilingualism in Japanese. Most of the people speak only Japanese and are integrated into Japanese culture. The Ainu in China is a different, unrelated language. SOV. Nearly extinct. NT 1897.

Also spoken in:

Russia (Asia)

Language name	AINU
Dialects	SAKHALIN (SAGHILIN), TARAIKA, HOKKAIDO (EZO, YEZO), KURIL (SHIKOTAN).
Comments	Ainu has not been determined to be related linguistically to any other language. Sources list up to 19 dialects. The last speaker of Sakhalin dialect died in 1994. Except for 15 speakers (1996), the Ainu in Japan speak Japanese. The Ainu spoken in China is a different, unrelated language. Nearly extinct. NT 1897. See main entry under Japan.