MONGOLIAN, HALH: a language of Mongolia

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It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005).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

ISO 639-1: mn

ISO 639-2: mon

Population	2,329,000 in Mongolia (1995), 89.7% of the population, including 32,300 Dariganga. Population total all countries 2,330,000.
Region	Buryat ASSR of Russia and Issyk-Kul Oblast of Kyrgyzstan. Also spoken in Kyrgyzstan, Russia (Asia), Taiwan.
Alternate names	HALH, KHALKHA MONGOLIAN, MONGOL, CENTRAL MONGOLIAN
Dialects	HALH (KHALKHA), DARIGANGA, KHOTOGOIT, SARTUL, TSONGOL.
Classification	Altaic, Mongolian, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Khalkha-Buriat, Mongolian Proper.
Comments	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 in Halh Mongolian. National language. Ethnic Zahchin, Mingat, Bayad, Oold are literate in Halh. Cyrillic script. Traditionally pastoralists, now many industrialists. Originally shamanist, then Lamaist Buddhist, now largely atheist. NT 1990.

Also spoken in:

Russia (Asia)

Language name	MONGOLIAN, HALH
Population	1,774 in Russia (1959).
Alternate names	HALH, KHALKHA MONGOLIAN, MONGOL, CENTRAL MONGOLIAN
Dialects	KHALKHA (HALH), DARIGANGA, URAT, UJUMUCHIN.
Comments	Halh serves as the basis for modern literary Mongolian. Buddhist. NT 1990. See main entry under Mongolia.