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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Europe > Russian Federation (Europe) > Judeo-Tat

Judeo-Tat

A language of Russian Federation (Europe)

ISO 639-3: jdt

Population	3,020 in Russian Federation (2002 census). Population total all countries: 97,020.
Region	Dagestan, Makhachkala, Majalis, Derbent, Buinaksk, Kizlyar; South of Pyatigorsk; North Ossetia, Mozdok; Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Nalchyk; Chechnya, Grozniy. Also in Azerbaijan, Israel.
Alternate names	Tati, Judeo-Tatic, Hebrew Tat, Jewish Tat, Bik, Dzhuhuric, Juhuri, Mountain Jewish, Lahji, Musulman Tats
Dialects	South Tat, North Tat.
Classification	Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Tat
Language development	Radio programs. Bible portions: 2000.
Writing system	Cyrillic script. Hebrew script. Latin script.
Comments	‘Tat’ is not an ethnic name. This is a Turkic term for ‘nomads’. Judeo-Tat speakers are called ‘Bik’; known as ‘Mountain Jews’. They call their language ‘Juwri’ or ‘Juhuri’. Tradition says that they have lived in the Caucasus since 722 A.D. Different from Takestani [tks] of Iran. Agriculturalists: marena grass for dyeing (traditionally); fruit; hides; merchants; animal husbandry: cattle. Jewish.

Also spoken in:

Azerbaijan

Language name	Judeo-Tat
Population	24,000 in Azerbaijan (1989 census).
Region	Northeast, Quba region, Baku, and Derbent (Russian Federation).
Language map	Azerbaijan
Alternate names	Bik, Dzhuhuric, Jewish Tat, Judeo-Tatic, Juhuri, Juwri
Language use	Tats attending the Gregorian (Armenian) church lived in Madrasa village until the late 1980s, and spoke a variety of Tat similar to Judeo-Tat. May have gone to Armenia or the Russian Federation.
Comments	Jewish.

Israel

Language name	Judeo-Tat
Population	70,000 in Israel (1998).
Region	Sderot, Haderah, and Or Akiva.
Alternate names	Bik, Dzhuhuric, Jewish Tat, Judeo-Tatic, Juhuri, “Tati”
Dialects	Derbend.
Comments	Speakers, called ‘Bik’, emigrating from the Caucasus Mountains to Israel at the rate of 2,000 a year. Agriculturalists: marena grass for dyeing (traditionally); merchants. Jewish.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

CLIFTON, John M., author. 2009. Do the Talysh and Tat languages have a future in Azerbaijan?.  

CLIFTON, John M., editor. 2003. Studies in languages of Azerbaijan, vol 2.

CLIFTON, John M.; DECKINGA, Gabriela; LUCHT, Laura; TIESSEN, Calvin, authors. 2003. "The sociolinguistic situation of the Tat and Mountain Jews in Azerbaijan."

CLIFTON, John M.; DECKINGA, Gabriela; LUCHT, Laura; TIESSEN, Calvin, authors. 2005. "Sociolinguistic situation of the Tat and Mountain Jews in Azerbaijan."