Kazakh

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A language of Kazakhstan

ISO 639-3
kaz
Alternate Names
Kaisak, Kazak, Kosach, Qazaq
Population

5,290,000 in Kazakhstan (1979 census). Population total all countries: 8,077,770.

Location

Also in China, Germany, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan.

Language Maps
Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1995, Constitution, Article 7(1)).

Classification
Altaic, Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Dialects

Northeastern Kazakh, Southern Kazakh, Western Kazakh. Minor dialect differences.

Typology

SOV

Language Use

98% speak Kazakh as L1. Positive attitudes. Increasing ethnic pride and feelings of Islamic brotherhood. Many also use Russian [rus] or Northern Uzbek [uzn].

Language Development
Increasing education in Kazakh. Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Bible: 1820–2010.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kazakh
Writing
Arabic script, used in China and Iran. Braille script. Cyrillic script, used in Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Latin script, used in Turkey.
Other Comments

Seminomadic. Eastern Kirghiz and Western Kirghiz erroneously applied to Kazakh. Muslim (Sunni).

Also spoken in:

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