Kolyma Yukaghir language

Also known as: Forest Yukaghir language, Southern Yukaghir language(Show More)

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June 30, 2026

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The Kolyma Yukaghir language is spoken by a small number of people in the Kolyma River region of Russia's Sakha republic. It is part of the Yukaghir language group, which also includes the extinct languages Omok and Chuvan. Historically, Yukaghir was categorized with other unrelated languages under the umbrella term "Paleo-Siberian languages". However, more recent linguistic analysis suggests Yukaghir may be distantly related to the Uralic language family. The Kolyma Yukaghir are one of two divisions of the Yukaghir people, the other being the Northern, or Tundra, Yukaghir. Their dialects are not mutually intelligible, and many younger Yukaghir are not fluent in their mother tongue due to assimilation.1234

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Paleo-Siberian languages
Yukaghir
…of the Indigirka River; and Kolyma, or Forest, Yukaghir (also called Southern Yukaghir) along the bend of the Kolyma River. Extinct earlier dialects or languages related to Yukaghir are Omok and Chuvan (Chuvantsy); these were spoken south and southwest of the current Yukaghir area. Nivkh has about 1,000 speakers, roughly…
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…of the Indigirka River; and Kolyma, or Forest, Yukaghir (also called Southern Yukaghir) along the bend of the Kolyma River. Extinct earlier dialects or languages related to Yukaghir are Omok and Chuvan (Chuvantsy); these were spoken south and southwest of the current Yukaghir area. Nivkh has about 1,000 speakers, roughly…
Read More