Ob-Ugric languages
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| Ob-Ugric | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution: |
Central Russia |
| Genetic classification: |
Uralic Finno-Ugric Ugric Ob-Ugric |
| Subdivisions: | |
The Ob-Ugric languages are a subset of the Finno-Ugric languages, specifically referring to the Khanty (Ostyak) and Mansi (Vogul) languages. They, along with Hungarian, comprise the Ugric branch of the Finno-Ugric languages. The languages are spoken in the region between the Urals and the Ob River and the Irtysh in central Russia. The forests and forest steppe of the southern Urals is thought to be the original homeland or the Ugric branch. Beginning some 500 years ago the arrival of the Russians pushed the speakers eastward to the Ob and Irtysh. Some Ob-Ugric speakers remained west of the Urals until as late as the early 20th century. Hungarian was split off during the 10th century AD by a migration to Hungary, starting from what is today Bashkortostan.[1] Although the languages are related to Hungarian, the connection is loose and are radically different in phonology, syntax, and vocabulary. Khanty and Mansi on the other hand are closely related, but are not mutually intelligible. The Ob-Ugric languages were later strongly influenced by nearby Turkic languages, especially Tatar.[2] Until 1930, these languages had no written or literary traditions, but since 1937 have used a modified Cyrillic alphabet. However, no significant texts have been created in these languages and are little used in official usage.[3] The languages however, do have examples of poetry, where a line has two segments, each with five or six words. They are known for using paired words, which bind the two segments together.[4] Mansi has about 3800 speakers while Khanty has about 14280 speakers, all within Russia.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Patton, Laurie L; Bryant, Edwin (2005). Indo-Aryan Controversy: Evidence and Inference in Indian History. Routledge (UK). ISBN 0700714626. Page 110.
- ^ Greller, Wolfgang (April 1, 2000). Encyclopedia of the Languages of Europe. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 0-631-22039-9. Page 478.
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. Ob-Ugric languages. Retrieved on June 22, 2006.
- ^ Yoder, P.B. (January 1, 2000). Poetry in the Hebrew Bible. Brill Academic Publishers. ISBN 90-04-11161-1. Page 102.
- ^ Lyovin, Anatole V (March 6, 1997). An Introduction to the Languages of the World. Oxford University Press US. ISBN 0-19-508116-1. Page 55.
