Kyrgyz

A language of Kyrgyzstan

ISO 639-3

kir

Alternate Names

Kara-Kirgiz, Kirghiz, Kirgiz

Autonym

кыргыз тили‎ (Kyrgyz tili), кыргызча‎ (Kyrgyzcha)

Population

4,170,000 in Kyrgyzstan (2014). Ethnic population: 3,800,000 (2009 census). Total users in all countries: 4,908,350.

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

Afghanistan

China

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2010, Constitution, Art 5 (1)).

Classification

Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian

Dialects

Northern Kyrgyz, Southern Kyrgyz.

Typology

SOV;postpositions; no articles; case-marking (7 cases); verb affixes mark person, number; passives; tense; 19 consonant and 8 vowel phonemes; non-tonal; stress on final syllable; vowel harmony.

Language Use

L1 for 98% of Kyrgyz. The Ichkilik are a Kyrgyz-speaking people of non-Kyrgyz origin. Also use Russian [rus].

Language Development

Schools in Kyrghyz. Newspapers. Radio. TV. Videos. Grammar. Bible: 1995–2004.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Kyrgyz

Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab], used in China. Cyrillic script [Cyrl], not used in Afghanistan. Latin script [Latn], used in Turkey.

Other Comments

The names Eastern Kyrghyz and Western Kyrghyz have been erroneously applied to Kazakh. Increasing education. Muslim, Buddhist.

Also spoken in:

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Afghanistan

Language nameKyrgyz

Population Full

750 in Afghanistan (2000). 450 in the Great Pamir; a few in Badakhshan.

Location

Badakhshan province: Wakhan district, Great Pamir and Little Pamir valleys.

Alternate Names

Kirghiz, Kirghizi, Kirgiz, Kyrgyz tili, Kyrgyzcha

Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Development

Afghan Kyrgyz do not read Cyrillic script.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Muslim.

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China

Language nameKyrgyz

Population Full

160,000 in China (2000 census). 60,000 Northern Kirghiz, 40,000 Southern Kirghiz (Shearer and Sun 2002). Older adults monolingual. Ethnic population: 187,000 (2010 census).

Location

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region: Akqi, Akto, Baicheng, Tekes, Wuqia, Wushi, and Zhaosu counties.

Alternate Names

Kara, Ke’erkez, Kirgiz

Dialects

Southern Kyrgyz, Northern Kyrgyz.

Status

2 (Provincial). Language of recognized nationality: Kyrgyz.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Dari [prs], Mandarin Chinese [cmn], Uyghur [uig]. Used as L2 by Sarikoli [srh].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 80%–85%. Literacy rate in L2: 59%. Taught in primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Muslim, traditional religion.

View other languages of China

Tajikistan

Language nameKyrgyz

Population Full

60,100 in Tajikistan (2012 UNSD). Ethnic population: 60,700 (2010 census).

Location

Kuhistoni Badakhshon region and Regions of Republican Subordination.

Status

5* (Dispersed).

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Turkey

Language nameKyrgyz

Location

Kars and Van provinces.

Alternate Names

Kyrgyz tili, Kyrgyzcha

Status

5* (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Refugees from Afghanistan; now Turkish citizens. Muslim.

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Ethnologue

Kyrgyz

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A language of Kyrgyzstan

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