FACTOID # 12: Americans and Icelanders go to the cinema 5 times a year, on average. The average Japanese person goes only once.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RELATED ARTICLES
People who viewed "Palaeosiberian" also viewed:
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS    Advanced view

Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 

 

(* = Graphable)

 

 


Encyclopedia > Palaeosiberian

Paleosiberian (Palaeosiberian, Paleo-Siberian) languages or Paleoasian languages (from Greek palaios, "ancient") is a term of convenience used in linguistics to classify a disparate group of languages spoken in remote regions of Siberia. Their only common provenance is that they are held to have antedated the more dominant languages, particularly Tungus and latterly Turkic languages that have largely displaced them. Even more recently, Turkish (at least in Siberia) and especially Tungus, have been displaced in their turn by Russian.


Five language isolates or at least very small language groups, not known to have any linguistic relationship to each other, compose the Paleo-Siberian languages:

1. Chukchi and its close relative, Koryak. Kamchadal is thought to be distantly related. Chukchi and Koryak are spoken in easternmost Siberia and are thriving. Kamchadal is spoken on the Kamchatka peninsula and is nearly extinct. The group as a whole is called Chukotko-Kamchatkan.
2. Yukaghir is spoken in two dialects: Odul in the lower Kolyma and Indigirka valleys and Chuvantsy, further inland and further east, now probably extinct. Yukaghir is held by some to be related to the Uralic languages.
3. Ket (or Yeniseian) is a language isolate on the middle Yenisei and its tributaries. Unsuccessful attempts have been made to relate it to Sino-Tibetan and North Caucasian groups.
4. Nivkh is spoken in the lower Amur basin and on the northern half of Sakhalin island. It has a recent modern literature and the Nivkhs have experienced a turbulent history in the last century.
5. Ainu is sometimes added to this group though it is not, strictly speaking, a language of Siberia. It barely survives in southern Sakhalin where it was the main native language. It was also spoken in the Kuril islands and on Hokkaido where a strong interest in its revival is taking place. It has been related by some linguistics to Indo-Pacific languages and Kalto.

Together with Japanese and Korean which are major modern languages, these 'poor relations' resist any easy or obvious linguistic classification, either with other groups or with each other.


  Results from FactBites:
 
NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Chukchi (339 words)
Chukchi (Luoravetlan (in native language), Chukot, Chukcha) is a Palaeosiberian language spoken by circa 10,400 people (2001) (Chukchi) in the easternmost extremity of Siberia, mainly in the region called Chukotka.
Chukchi (also Luoravetlan, Chukot, Chukcha) is a Palaeosiberian language spoken by circa 10,400 people (2001) (Chukchi) in the easternmost extremity of Siberia, mainly in the region called Chukotka.
The Chukchi and Koryaks form a cultural unit with an economy based on reindeer herding and both have autonomy within the Russian Federation.
  More results at FactBites »


 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.