Loading. Please wait...

Detailed Profile

Dolgan

A fragile language of the Taymyr area

Dolgan is a Turkic language living in small communities and important for documentation because intergenerational transmission has weakened.

Back to all languages

Overview

Dolgan is a Turkic language living in small communities and important for documentation because intergenerational transmission has weakened.

General profile

Dolgan is one of the small but important heritage languages at the northern edge of the Turkic world.

Script and status

Although a Cyrillic orthography exists, the decisive factor for the language's future is younger-generation use.

Geographic footprint

  • Dolgan is found in small settlements of northern Siberia.
  • Population dispersion limits the space for institutional support.

Historical development

20th century
Limited written and educational use was developed.
Present day
Weakening intergenerational transmission makes the language more fragile.

Reference facts

Language grouping
Siberian Turkic
Core geography
Taymyr
Writing system
Cyrillic alphabet
Status
Endangered

Sources

  • Source: Ethnologue: Dolgan
  • Source: Glottolog: Dolgan
  • Source: Endangered Languages Project: Dolgan