Also Known As:
Aynu, Aini, Abdal, Eynu, Äynu, 艾努語
Dialects & Varieties
The study of Ainu (艾努語研究)
Zhao Xiangru (趙相如) and Aximu (阿西木). 2011. "The Study of Ainu (艾努語研究)." Beijing: Minzu Publisher (民族出版社).
Threatened
60 percent certain, based on the evidence available
< 12,000
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 2
A majority of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are gradually decreasing.
2
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 3
Used mainly in the home and/or with family, but remains the primary language of these domains for many community members.
3
Speakers
Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
12,000
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
Ainu speakers are Muslims who only marry within their own group. Though Ainu belongs to the Iranian languages, it has been heavily influenced by Uyghur which is Turkic due to long term contact.
Location and Context
Countries
China
Location Description
The speakers of Ainu are Muslims scattering all over the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China (Hotan/Hetian (和田), Yutian (于闐), Kargilik/Yecheng (葉城), Yining (伊寧), and Ürümqi (烏魯木齊), among others).
Government Support
no
Institutional Support
no
Speakers' Attitude
positive
Other Languages Used By The Community
Uyghur; Mandarin
Number of Other Language Speakers:
all bilingual in Uyghur
Domains of Other Languages:
Mandarin in formal domains; Uyghur in daily life with non-Ainu speakers
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
no orthographies
Recent Resources
This book introduces the culture, life of Ainu peoplein Xinjiang Province, China and the lexicon, sy