Altai languages
| Altai | |
|---|---|
| Gorno–Altai | |
| aлтай тил, altay til | |
| (ethnically defined) | |
| Geographic distribution | Altai Republic, Altai Krai, Kemerovo Oblast |
| Ethnicity | Altai, including Chelkans, Telengits, Tubalars |
Native speakers | 125,700 (Total of Southern and Northern Altai speakers) |
| Linguistic classification | Turkic
|
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 / 5 | alt |
Either:atv – Northern Altaialt – Southern Altai | |
| Glottolog | None alta1276 (code retired) |
Map of Altai varieties | |
Altai or Altay (Altay: Алтай тил, romanized: Altay til) is a set of Turkic languages spoken officially in the Altai Republic, Russia. The standard vocabulary is based on the Southern Altai language, though it is also taught to and used by speakers of the Northern Altai language as well. Gorno–Altai refers to a subgroup of languages in the Altai Mountains. The languages were called Oyrot (ойрот) prior to 1948.
Altai is spoken primarily in the Altai Republic. There is a small community of speakers in the neighbouring Altai Krai as well.