Even

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A language of Russian Federation

ISO 639-3
eve
Alternate Names
Eben, Ewen, Ilqan, Lamut, Orich
Population

5,660 (2010 census). Ethnic population: 19,100 (2002 census).

Location

Scattered in Sakha Republic (half of all Evens), Magadan Province, Khabarovski District, Kamchatka peninsula, and Chukotka Autonmous Region.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Altaic, Tungusic, Northern, Even
Dialects

Arman, Indigirka, Kamchatka, Kolyma-Omolon, Lamunkhin, Okhotsk, Ola, Sakkyryr, Tompon, Upper Kolyma. Many dialects. Arman has no remaining speakers. Ola (basis for literary Even) not accepted by dialect speakers.

Language Use

Strongest in Sakha (Beryozovka, Sebyan-Kyuly) and Northern Magadan Oblast (Seymchan). Evens learn the language of ethnicities around them, and switch to that language when a non-Even is present. Few domains. Mainly older adults. Positive attitudes. All are bilingual or multilingual in Russian [rus], Yakut [sah] or Koryak [kpy] (Salminen 2007).

Language Development
Some literature available. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1880–2001.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Even
Writing
Cyrillic script, two orthographical standards, limited usage.
Other Comments

Many dialects divided into two main groups: Western and Eastern Even. Traditional religion, Christian.