Alternate Names: Diba, Kök Mungak, Soyod, Soyon, Soyot, Tannu-Tuva, Tofa, Tokha, Tuba, Tuvan, Tuvia, Tuvin, Tuvinian, Tyva, Uriankhai, Uriankhai-Monchak, Uryankhai
Dialects: Central Tuvin, Northeastern Tuvin (Todzhin), Southeastern Tuvin, Tuba-Kizhi, Western Tuvin. Sharp dialect differences.
Status Notes: De facto language of provincial identity in Tuva Republic.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 254,000 in Russian Federation (2010 census), increasing. Population total all countries: 283,400. Ethnic population: 268,000 (2010 census).
Language Use: One of most vital minority languages in Siberia due to geographic isolation. Home, work, government. All ages. Neutral attitudes. Also use Mongolian [khk] near the border. Also use Russian [rus] near the border.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 85% in Russian (2007 SIL). Taught in primary and secondary schools. Bible: 2011.
Writing System: Cyrillic
Nation of Origin: Russian Federation
Other Comments: Until 1944 Tuva was an independent state. Buddhist (Lamaist), traditional religion.