Mansi

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A language of Russian Federation

ISO 639-3
mns
Alternate Names
Mansiy, Vogul, Vogulich, Voguly
Population

940 (2010 census). Ethnic population: 11,400.

Location

Western Siberia, Komi-Zyrian [kpv] language area to the west of the Urals; between Ural and Ob rivers.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Uralic
Dialects

Eastern Vogul (Eastern Mansi, Kondin), Northern Vogul (Northern Mansi, Ob’, Sos’va, Sosyvin, Sygva, Upper Lozyvin), Western Vogul (Lower Lozyvin, Middle Lozyvin, Pelym, Vagily, Western Mansi). Mostly Northern Vogul speakers; probably only a handful of elderly speakers of Eastern Vogul; Western Vogul is probably extinct; Southern Vogul was extinct before 1950 (Salminen 2007). Most similar to Hungarian [hun].

Language Use

Mansi spoken by 50% or less of the ethnic group; most shifted to Russian [rus]. Few domains. Few to half of the children learn Mansi. Eastern Mansi is used only by older adults. Neutral to very positive attitudes. Some also use Russian [rus].

Language Development
Russian [rus] used in schools. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1868–2007.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mansi
Writing
Cyrillic script.
Other Comments

Traditional religion.