Ainu

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
aib
Alternate Names
Abdal, Aini, Aynu
Population

6,570 (2000).

Location

Southwest Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Hetian, Luopu, Moyu, Shache, Yingjisha, and Shulekuche counties; Kashgar area, Yengixar (Shule) town, Hanalik and Paynap villages, and Gewoz village near Hoban.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Altaic, Turkic, Eastern
Dialects

Has the same grammar as Uyghur [uig] but much Persian [pes] vocabulary. Some consider it a dialect of Uyghur, others an Iranian language heavily influenced by Uyghur.

Language Use

Home. Uyghur [uig] spoken to outsiders.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ainu
Other Comments

Officially classified within Uyghur nationality, but do not intermarry with ethnic Uyghur. Muslim (Sunni).