Ethnologue 14 report for language code:RUS

RUSSIAN: a language of Russia (Europe)

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It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005).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

ISO 639-1: ru

ISO 639-2: rus

Population

153,655,000 in the republics of the former USSR. Population total all countries 167,000,000 first language speakers (1999 WA); 277,000,000 including second language users (1999 WA).

Region

Also spoken in 30 other countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova.

Alternate names

RUSSKI

Dialects

NORTH RUSSIAN, SOUTH RUSSIAN.

Classification

Indo-European, Slavic, East.

Comments

The Chuvan are a Yukagiric people now speaking Russian. The Meshcheryak are ethnically Erzya, but speak Russian. The Teryukhan are ethnically Erzya in Gorkiy, but speak Russian. National language. Dictionary. Grammar. SVO; prepositions; genitives after noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals before noun heads; question word initial; 1 prefix on a word; recursive addition of suffixes allowed; nontonal. Christian. Bible 1680-1993.

Also spoken in:

China

Language name	RUSSIAN
Population	13,504 in China (1990 census).
Alternate names	OLOSSU, ELUOSI, RUSS, RUSSKI
Comments	An official nationality in China. Agriculturalists, animal husbandry. Christian. Bible 1680-1993. See main entry under Russia.

Israel

Language name	RUSSIAN
Population	750,000 in Israel (1999 H. Mutzafi).
Alternate names	RUSSIT, RUSSKI
Comments	Most speakers use Hebrew as second language but prefer Russian. Radio programs. Jewish. Bible 1860-1993. See main entry under Russia.

Mongolia

Language name	RUSSIAN
Population	4,000 in Mongolia (1993 Johnstone).
Alternate names	RUSSKI
Comments	Russians who are permanent residents are called 'Mectny Oros'. Widely taught in schools and for higher education. Mainly atheist, many occultist. Bible 1680-1993. See main entry under Russia.

USA

Language name	RUSSIAN
Population	334,615 in USA (1970 census).
Alternate names	RUSSKI
Comments	The Doukhobors and Molokans are conservative religious groups who speak Standard Russian. Other Russian speakers in the USA have long-standing residence; still others have come more recently. Bible 1680-1993. See main entry under Russia.