Even

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A language of Russian Federation

ISO 639-3
eve
Alternate Names
Eben, Ewen, Ilqan, Lamut, Orich
Autonym
эвэды торэн‎ (eved’i toren)
User Population

5,660 (2010 census). Ethnic population: 21,800 (2010 census).

Location

Sakha (Yakutia) republic; Magadan province; Khabarovsk krai, scattered.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Tungusic, Northern, Even
Dialects

Arman, Indigirka, Kamchatka, Kolyma-Omolon, Okhotsk, Ola, Tompon, Upper Kolyma, Sakkyryr, Lamunkhin. Last known speaker of Arman died in the 1970s (Moseley 2010). Ola (basis for literary Even) not accepted by dialect speakers.

Language Use

Strongest in Sakha (Beryozovka, Sebyan-Kyuly) and Northern Magadan Oblast (Seymchan). Evens learn the language of ethnicities around them, and switch to that language when a non-Even is present. Few domains. Adults only. Positive attitudes. Shifting to Russian [rus]. Also use Koryak [kpy]. Also use Yakut [sah]. Used as L2 by Chukchi [ckt], Northern Yukaghir [ykg], Southern Yukaghir [yux].

Language Development

Some literature available. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 1880–2001.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Even
Writing

Cyrillic script [Cyrl], two orthographical standards, limited usage. Cyrillic script, Old Church Slavonic variant [Cyrs], in the 19th century, experimental usage.

Other Comments

Many dialects divided into two main groups: Western and Eastern Even. Traditional religion, Christian.