Alternate Names: Altai, Oirot, Oyrot
Dialects: Altai Proper (Altai-Kizhi, Altaj Kizi, Maina-Kizhi, Southern Altai), Talangit (Chuy, Talangit-Tolos, Telengit), Teleut. No intelligiblility of Northern Altai ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 57,400 (2010 census). Ethnic population: 74,200 (2010 census). Includes Northern Altai ,.
Language Use: Home, and with other Altai. All ages. Also use Russian [rus].
Language Development: Written Altai based on Southern Altai, but is rejected by Northern Altai children. Taught in primary schools as a medium in a few schools and as a subject in a few schools. NT: 2003.
Writing System: Cyrillic, Mongolian
Nation of Origin: Russian Federation
Other Comments: Different from Oirat , (Kalmyk-Oirat), a Mongolian language. Traditional religion.