GAGAUZ: a language of Moldova

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It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005).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: GAG

ISO 639-2: tut

Population	173,000 in Moldova (1979 census), 89% speak it as mother tongue. Population total all countries 198,000 1993 UBS).
Region	Cultural center is Kishinev. Also spoken in Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Romania, Ukraine.
Alternate names	GAGAUZI
Dialects	BULGAR GAGAUZI, MARITIME GAGAUZI.
Classification	Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Turkish.
Comments	Close to Turkish, but uses Russian Orthodox Christian religious vocabulary in contrast to the Islamic vocabulary of Turkish. Speakers have proclaimed autonomy from Moldova and appealed to Turkey for protection (1992 Time). Cyrillic script introduced in 1957. Christian. Bible portions 1927-1996.

Also spoken in:

Bulgaria

Language name	GAGAUZ
Population	12,000 in Bulgaria (1982 estimate).
Alternate names	GAGAUZI
Dialects	BULGAR GAGAUZ, MARITIME GAGAUZ.
Comments	Gagauz might be considered a dialect of Turkish, except for the use of Orthodox Christian religious vocabulary. Christian. Bible portions 1927-1996. See main entry under Moldova.

Romania

Language name	GAGAUZ
Alternate names	GAGAUZI
Dialects	BULGAR GAGAUZ, MARITIME GAGAUZ.
Comments	Christian. Bible portions 1927-1996. See main entry under Moldova.