Alternate Names: Kaisak, Kazak, Kosach, Qazaq
Dialects: Northeastern Kazakh, Southern Kazakh, Western Kazakh. Minor dialect differences.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 5,290,000 in Kazakhstan (1979 census). Population total all countries: 8,077,770.
Language Use: 98% speak Kazakh as L1. Positive attitudes. Increasing ethnic pride and feelings of Islamic brotherhood. Also use Northern Uzbek [uzn], Russian [rus].
Language Development: Increasing education in Kazakh. Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Bible: 1820–2010.
Typology: SOV.
Spoken In: Kazakhstan
Writing System: Arabic, Braille, Cyrillic, Latin
Nation of Origin: Kazakhstan
Other Comments: Seminomadic. Eastern Kirghiz and Western Kirghiz erroneously applied to Kazakh. Muslim (Sunni).