| Population |
7,214,431 in China (1990 census), including 4,700,000 Central Uyghur, 1,150,000 Hotan, 25,000 Lop. Population total all countries 7,595,512 or more. |
| Region |
Throughout the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. Also spoken in Afghanistan, Australia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Turkey (Asia), USA, Uzbekistan. |
| Alternate names |
UIGHUR, UYGUR, UIGUR, UIGHUIR, UIGUIR, WEIWUER, WIGA |
| Dialects |
CENTRAL UYGHUR, HOTAN (HETIAN), LOP (LUOBU). |
| Classification |
Altaic, Turkic, Eastern. |
| Comments |
The Akto Türkmen speak a dialect of Uyghur with 500 different seldom-used words. They have different appearance and customs. They say they originated in Samarkand, and are listed as Kirghiz by the government. There are 2,000 in two villages, Kösarap and Oytak in Akto County, south of Kashgar, Xinjiang. Dolan is a dialect spoken around the fringes of the Taklimakan desert in Xinjiang. Chinese linguists recognize 3 dialects. Others have used the following dialect names: Kashgar-Yarkand (Kashi-Shac he), Yengi Hissar (Yengisar), Khotan-Kerya (Hotan-Yutian), Charchan (Qarqan, Qiemo), Aksu (Aqsu), Qarashahr (Karaxahar), Kucha (Kuqa), Turfan (Turpan), Kumul (Hami), Ili (Kulja, Yining, Taranchi), Urumqi (Urumchi), Lopnor (Lopnur), Dolan, Akto Türkmen. One of the five main official nationalities in China. Those in the north are more influenced by modern Chinese culture. SOV; postpositions; genitives, adjectives, numerals, relatives before noun heads; question words initial; a few prefixes; 3 suffixes on nouns; 6 suffixes on verbs; word order distinguishes subjects and indirect objects, topic and comment; 8 noun cases shown by suffixes; verb suffixes mark subject person, number, 2nd person marks plural and 3 levels of respect; passive, reflexive, reciprocal and causative; comparatives; CV, CVC, CVCC; nontonal. Literacy rate in second language: 56%. Based on Central Uyghur as spoken in the area between Yili (Ili) and Urumqi. It had a Roman script in China. A new Arabic script was introduced in 1987. Cyrillic script has been used. Radio programs. Desert, oases. Valleys. Agriculturalists: grain, fruit, grapes, vegetables, cotton; traders; craftsmen. Sunni Muslim. Bible 1950. |
| Afghanistan |
| Language name |
UYGHUR |
| Population |
3,000 in Afghanistan. |
| Alternate names |
UIGHUR, UYGHURI, WIGHOR, UIGHOR, UIGUIR |
| Dialects |
KASHGAR-YARKAND (YARKANDI), TARANCHI. |
| Comments |
Literacy rate in first language: Below 1%. Literacy rate in second language: 5% to 15%. Sunni Muslim. Bible 1950. See main entry under China. |
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| Kazakhstan |
| Language name |
UYGHUR |
| Population |
300,000 in Kazakhstan (1993), 86% speak it as mother tongue. |
| Alternate names |
UIGHUR, UIGUIR, UYGUR, NOVOUYGUR |
| Dialects |
TARANCHI (KULJA), KASHGAR-YARKAND. |
| Comments |
There are significant dialect differences between China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Cyrillic script. Agriculturalists. Sunni Muslim. Bible 1950. See main entry under China. |
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| Mongolia |
| Language name |
UYGHUR |
| Population |
1,000 in Mongolia (1982 estimate). |
| Alternate names |
UYGUR, UIGHUR, UIGUR, UIGHUIR, UIGUIR |
| Comments |
Literacy is in Halh in Mongolia and the Uyghur are generally assimilated to Halh culture. Sunni Muslim. Bible 1950. See main entry under China. |
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| Turkey (Asia) |
| Language name |
UYGHUR |
| Population |
500 or more first language speakers in Turkey (1981). |
| Alternate names |
UIGHUR, UYGUR, UIGUR |
| Comments |
Roman script used. Sunni Muslim. Bible 1950. See main entry under China. |
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