Moldova

Summary

Official Name: Republic of Moldova
Population: 3,287,000
General Remarks: No population results from Transnistria, which unilaterally declared independence from Moldova in 1990, recognized only by Russia and other breakaway territories
Principal Languages: Romanian, Russian
Literacy Rate: 99% (2015 World Factbook)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Sebeok 1963
Deaf Population: 5,000
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Moldova is 11. All are living languages. Of these, 3 are indigenous and 8 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 5 are developing, 3 are vigorous, and 1 is dying. Also listed are 2 unestablished languages.

Languages

Bulgarian bul: Cahul, Cantemir, Chisinau City, Gagauzia, Leova, and Taraclia districts. Users: 41,800 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 51,900 (2014 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Crimean Tatar crh: Users: 1,860 in Moldova. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern
French fra: Users: 55,000 in Moldova (Beck et al 2018), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Gagauz gag: Basarabeasca, Cahul, Cantemir, Cimislia, Criuleni, Gagauzia, Leova, and Taraclia districts; Chisinau City. Users: 115,000 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 126,000 (2014 census). Total users in all countries: 148,720. Status: 5* (Developing). Statutory language of provincial identity in Gagauzia (1994, Constitution, Articles 3(1), 3(2)). Alternate Names: Gagauzi Autonym: Gagauz dili, Gagauzça Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
German, Standard deu: Users: 6,700 in Moldova (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Moldova Sign Language vsi: Scattered. Users: 5,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 5,000–13,000 deaf signers in Moldova for all sign languages, assuming 0.2%–0.5% of total population. Other estimates: 5,000 (2017 N. Andrianova), 17,500 (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2012, Article 25(1), Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, No. 60). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Romani, Balkan rmn: Scattered. Users: 7,570 in Moldova (2014 census). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Romani ćhib Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Balkan
Romanian ron: Widespread. Users: 2,180,000 in Moldova (2014 census). 1,540,000 Moldavian and 640,000 Romanian (2014 census). Ethnic population: 2,260,000 (2014 census). 2,070,000 Moldovan and 193,000 Romanian (2014 census). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2013, Constitutional Court, Jts. 8b and 41b). Alternate Names: Moldovan, Română, Roumanian, Rumanian Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Romanian Sign Language rms: Briceni, Cantemir, Cahul, Edinet, Falesti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Leova, Nisporeni, Riscani, and Ungheni districts; scattered in areas named above which border Romania. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Russian rus: Widespread. Users: 1,714,000 in Moldova, all users. L1 users: 264,000 in Moldova (2014 census). L2 users: 1,450,000 (Arefyev 2012). Ethnic population: 112,000 (2014 census). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Russian Sign Language rsl: Scattered. Users: 5,000 in Moldova (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 5,000–13,000 deaf signers in Moldova for all sign languages, assuming 0.2%–0.5% of total population. Other estimates: 5,000 (2017 N. Andrianova), 17,500 (2014 IMB). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Ukrainian ukr: Briceni, Cimislia, Donduseni, Drochia, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Ocnita, Riscani, and Singerei districts. Users: 107,000 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 181,000 (2014 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Yiddish, Eastern ydd: Scattered. Users: 600 in Moldova (2018). Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Romanian

[ron] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2013, Constitutional Court, Jts. 8b and 41b). 2,180,000 in Moldova (2014 census). 1,540,000 Moldavian and 640,000 Romanian (2014 census). Ethnic population: 2,260,000 (2014 census). 2,070,000 Moldovan and 193,000 Romanian (2014 census).

3 (Wider communication)

Russian

[rus] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. 1,714,000 in Moldova, all users. L1 users: 264,000 in Moldova (2014 census). L2 users: 1,450,000 (Arefyev 2012). Ethnic population: 112,000 (2014 census).

5 (Dispersed)

Bulgarian

[bul] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). 41,800 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 51,900 (2014 census).

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 55,000 in Moldova (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

Ukrainian

[ukr] 5* (Dispersed). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). 107,000 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 181,000 (2014 census).

5 (Developing)

Gagauz

[gag] 5* (Developing). Statutory language of provincial identity in Gagauzia (1994, Constitution, Articles 3(1), 3(2)). 115,000 in Moldova (2014 census). Ethnic population: 126,000 (2014 census). Total users in all countries: 148,720.

Moldova Sign Language

[vsi] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2012, Article 25(1), Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, No. 60). 5,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 5,000–13,000 deaf signers in Moldova for all sign languages, assuming 0.2%–0.5% of total population. Other estimates: 5,000 (2017 N. Andrianova), 17,500 (2014 IMB).

6a (Vigorous)

Romani, Balkan

[rmn] 6a* (Vigorous). 7,570 in Moldova (2014 census).

Romanian Sign Language

[rms] 6a* (Vigorous).

Russian Sign Language

[rsl] 6a (Vigorous). 5,000 in Moldova (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 5,000–13,000 deaf signers in Moldova for all sign languages, assuming 0.2%–0.5% of total population. Other estimates: 5,000 (2017 N. Andrianova), 17,500 (2014 IMB).

8a (Moribund)

Yiddish, Eastern

[ydd] 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2001, National Minority Law, Article 6(1)). 600 in Moldova (2018).

Unestablished

Crimean Tatar

[crh] Unestablished. 1,860 in Moldova.

German, Standard

[deu] Unestablished. 6,700 in Moldova (2020 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Maps

Moldova and Romania Index Map
Northern Moldova and Northeast Romania
Southern Moldova and Southeastern Romania

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Moldova with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Moldova is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Moldova with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Moldova is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Moldova in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Moldova ($149.95, 20 page PDF)

Moldova

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Moldova and Romania Index Map

Northern Moldova and Northeast Romania

Southern Moldova and Southeastern Romania

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action