Mongolia

Summary

Official Name: Mongolia
Population: 3,329,000
Principal Languages: Halh Mongolian
Literacy Rate: 98% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell and King 2011, Poppe 1955, Sebeok 1967
Deaf Population: 10,000–147,330
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Mongolia is 12. All are living languages. Of these, 7 are indigenous and 5 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional, 4 are developing, 2 are vigorous, 2 are in trouble, and 2 are dying. Also listed is 1 macrolanguage.

Languages

Buriat, Mongolia bxm: Bulgan, Dornod, Hentiy, Hovsgol, Selenge, and Tov provinces: especially Russian Republic of Buryatia border area. Users: 42,500 (2016), decreasing. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Buriat-Mongolian, Burraad, Buryat, Mongolian Buriat, Northern Mongolian Classification: Mongolic, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Khalkha-Buriat, Buriat
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Omnogovi province; Uvs province: Tarialan and Ulaangom districts. Users: 43,700 in Mongolia (2016). 11,300 ethnic Khoton speak a form of Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Hoton, Hui, Hui-Zu, Hytad, Khoton, Mandarin, Northern Chinese, Qotong, Xui Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Daur dta: Scattered, especially in Hentiy province. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Daguor, Dagur, Dawar, Dawo’er, Tahuerh, Tahur Classification: Mongolic, Eastern, Dagur
Evenki evn: Selenge province. Users: No known L1 speakers in Mongolia. Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Ewenke, Ewenki, Khamnigan, Khamnigan Ewenki, Khamnigan Mongol, Solon, Tungus, Tungus Ewenki Classification: Tungusic, Northern, Evenki
Kazakh kaz: Bayan-Olgiy and Hovd provinces: mining communities east of the capital; far east Choibalsan area. Users: 120,000 in Mongolia (2016), based on ethnicity. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Kaisak, Kazakhi, Kazax, Kosach, Qazaq, Qazaqi Classification: Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian
Mongolian mon: Users: Population total all languages (L1 only): 6,089,080. Status:
Mongolian Sign Language msr: Scattered. Users: 16,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 9,000–20,000 deaf signers, based on 0.3%–0.6% of total population. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: MSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Mongolian, Halh khk: Widespread. Users: 2,640,000 in Mongolia (2016). Includes 28,100 Dariganga, 23,700 Darkhat, 22,500 Khotogoit, and 3,430 Sartul. Based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 2,711,160. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 8(1)). Alternate Names: Central Mongolian, Halh, Halha, Kalkh, Khalkha, Khalkha Mongolian, Mongol, Mongolian Autonym: Монгол хэл‎ (Mongol khel) Classification: Mongolic, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Khalkha-Buriat, Mongolian Proper
Mongolian, Peripheral mvf: Bayanhongor, Dornod, Dornogovi, Govi-Altay, Omnogovi, and Suhbaatar provinces: except Choybalsan area in Dornod; south and southeast China border area. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Southern-Eastern Mongolian Classification: Mongolic, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Khalkha-Buriat, Mongolian Proper
Oirat xal: Arhangay, Bayan-Olgiy, Dzavhan, Hovd, Hovsgol, Govi-Altay, Omnogovi, and Uvs provinces. Users: 221,000 in Mongolia (2016). 53,400 Bayit, 74,600 Durbet, 12,200 Khoton, 6,300 Myangad, 13,400 Olot, 15,000 Torguud, 26,100 Uriankhai, and 31,600 Zakhchin (2016, based on 2015 census). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Kalmyk-Oirat, Western Mongol Classification: Mongolic, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Oirat-Kalmyk-Darkhat
Russian rus: Scattered. Users: 1,200,300 in Mongolia, all users. L1 users: 5,300 in Mongolia (2016). L2 users: 1,195,000 (Arefyev 2012). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Alternate Names: Okhu-in Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Tuvan tyv: Dzavhan province: Dorvoljin district; Hovd province: capital city area; Hovsgol province: north and west enclaves, northwest Tsagaannuur and Ulaan-Uul districts, and 2 areas of east of Hovsgol Nuur; Omnogovi province; Uvs province: far north Tsagaannuur and Ulaan-Uul districts. Users: 40,600 in Mongolia (2016). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Diba, Kök Mungak, Soyod, Soyon, Soyot, Tannu-Tuva, Tuba, Tuva, Tuva-Uriankhai, Tuvia, Tuvin, Tuvinian, Tuwa-Uriankhai, Tyvan, Uriankhai, Uryankhai-Monchak Classification: Turkic, Northern
Uyghur uig: Govi-Altay province: Altai and Thogta sums. Users: No known L1 speakers in Mongolia. Ethnic population: 12,000 (2015). Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Uighuir, Uighur, Uiguir, Uigur, Uygur Classification: Turkic, Eastern

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Mongolian, Halh

[khk] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 8(1)). 2,640,000 in Mongolia (2016). Includes 28,100 Dariganga, 23,700 Darkhat, 22,500 Khotogoit, and 3,430 Sartul. Based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 2,711,160.

3 (Wider communication)

Russian

[rus] 3 (Wider communication). 1,200,300 in Mongolia, all users. L1 users: 5,300 in Mongolia (2016). L2 users: 1,195,000 (Arefyev 2012).

5 (Dispersed)

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] 5* (Dispersed). 43,700 in Mongolia (2016). 11,300 ethnic Khoton speak a form of Mandarin Chinese [cmn].

Kazakh

[kaz] 5* (Dispersed). 120,000 in Mongolia (2016), based on ethnicity.

Tuvan

[tyv] 5* (Dispersed). 40,600 in Mongolia (2016).

5 (Developing)

Mongolian, Peripheral

[mvf] 5* (Developing).

6a (Vigorous)

Buriat, Mongolia

[bxm] 6a* (Vigorous). 42,500 (2016), decreasing.

Mongolian Sign Language

[msr] 6a (Vigorous). 16,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 9,000–20,000 deaf signers, based on 0.3%–0.6% of total population.

6b (Threatened)

Oirat

[xal] 6b* (Threatened). 221,000 in Mongolia (2016). 53,400 Bayit, 74,600 Durbet, 12,200 Khoton, 6,300 Myangad, 13,400 Olot, 15,000 Torguud, 26,100 Uriankhai, and 31,600 Zakhchin (2016, based on 2015 census).

7 (Shifting)

Daur

[dta] 7 (Shifting).

9 (Dormant)

Evenki

[evn] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers in Mongolia.

Uyghur

[uig] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers in Mongolia. Ethnic population: 12,000 (2015).

Maps

Mongolia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Mongolia with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Mongolia 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 Mongolia with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Mongolia 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 Mongolia 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 Mongolia ($149.95, 25 page PDF)

Mongolia

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Mongolia

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action