Alternate Names: Inner Mongolian, Menggu, Monggol, Mongol, Southern-Eastern Mongolian
Dialects: Chahar (Chaha’er, Chakhar, Qahar), Ejine, Jirim (Gorlos, Jalait, Kalaqin, Khorchin), Jostu (Eastern Tumut, Ke’erqin, Kharachin, Kharchin, Kharchin-Tumut), Jo-Uda (Bairin, Balin, Keshikten, Naiman), Ordos (E’erduosite), Shilingol (Ujumchin), Tumut (Tumet), Ulanchab (Mingan, Urat). Largely intelligible of Halh Mongolian ,, but there are phonological and important loanword differences. A member of macrolanguage Mongolian ,.
Status Notes: Language of recognized nationality: Mongolian.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 3,380,000 in China (1982). Population includes 299,000 Chakhar, 317,000 Bairin, 1,347,000 Khorain, 593,00 Karachin, 123,000 Ordos, 34,000 Ejine. 2,500,000 monolinguals.
Language Use: Vigorous. Chinese living in the area can also speak it. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Kazakh [kaz], Mandarin Chinese [cmn], Uyghur [uig]. Used as L2 by Daur [dta], Evenki [evn], Kalmyk-Oirat [xal], Oroqen [orh], Tuva [tyv].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 71%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Magazines. Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Grammar. Bible: 2003.
Typology: SOV.
Writing System: Mongolian
Nation of Origin: China
Other Comments: Includes China Buriat ,, Tuva ,, Kalmyk-Oirat ,, and speakers of other varieties. In Xinjiang, Torgut, Oold, Korbet, and Hoshut peoples are known as the Four tribes of Oirat. Buddhist (Lamaist), traditional religion.