Ethnologue 14 report for language code:TRK

TURKISH: a language of Turkey (Asia)

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: TRK

ISO 639-1: tr

ISO 639-2: tur

ISO 639-2: ota

Population

46,278,000 in Turkey, 90% of the population (1987). Population total all countries 61,000,000 (1999 WA).

Region

Spoken throughout Turkey as first or second language. Also spoken in 35 other countries including Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Israel.

Alternate names

TÜRKÇE, TÜRKISCH, ANATOLIAN

Dialects

DANUBIAN, ESKISEHIR, RAZGRAD, DINLER, RUMELIAN, KARAMANLI, EDIRNE, GAZIANTEP, URFA.

Classification

Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Turkish.

Comments

Danubian is western; other dialects are eastern. The Karamanli are Turkish-speaking Greeks. National language. Dictionary. Grammar. SOV. Roman script now used. Muslim. Bible 1827-1941.

Also spoken in:

Bulgaria

Language name	TURKISH
Population	845,550 in Bulgaria, 9% of the population (1986).
Alternate names	OSMANLI, TURKI
Dialects	DANUBIAN, RAZGRAD, DINLER, MACEDONIAN TURKISH.
Comments	The Turkish language is gradually being replaced by Bulgarian, although Islam and ethnic identity remain strong. Natural growth has been balanced by emigration to Turkey. Official language. Muslim. Bible 1827-1941. See main entry under Turkey.

Cyprus

Language name	TURKISH
Population	177,000 in Cyprus (1995), 20% of the population.
Alternate names	OSMANLI
Comments	National language. Muslim. Bible 1827-1941. See main entry under Turkey.

Greece

Language name	TURKISH
Population	128,380 in Greece (1976 WA).
Alternate names	OSMANLI
Comments	The number of Turks in Greece remains fairly constant, because growth is offset by a steady flow of emigration to Turkey. Muslim, Christian. Bible 1827-1941. See main entry under Turkey.

Macedonia

Language name	TURKISH
Population	250,000 in Macedonia and Yugoslavia (1982 estimate).
Alternate names	OSMANLI
Dialects	MACEDONIAN, DINLER.
Comments	Sunni and Bektashi Muslim. Bible 1827-1941. See main entry under Turkey.

Romania

Language name	TURKISH
Population	150,000 in Romania (1993 Johnstone).
Alternate names	OSMANLI
Dialects	DANUBIAN.
Comments	Muslim. Bible 1827-1941. See main entry under Turkey.

Uzbekistan

Language name	TURKISH
Population	197,000 estimate in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrghyzstan (based on 1979 census, not counting 56,000 'Turks of Fergana', who speak an Uzbek dialect).
Alternate names	OSMANLI
Dialects	DANUBIAN, ESKISEHIR, RAZGRAD, DINLER, RUMELIAN, KARAMANLI, EDIRNE, GAZIANTEP, URFA.
Comments	The Danubian dialect is western, other dialects are eastern. Bilingualism in Azerbaijani. Some speak Turkish; others Azerbaijani. Meskhetian Georgians, Khemshel Armenians, and Kurds in Uzbekistan speak Turkish. Sunni Muslim. Bible 1827-1941. See main entry under Turkey.