Volga Tatar language
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Volga Tatar—or simply Tatar—is a Turkic language spoken mainly in Tatarstan and nearby Russian republics and oblasts, by the approximately seven million Volga Tatar people, as well as some others.[1] Variants are spoken from Finland and across Russia and former Soviet republics. There are three dialects: Western, Central, and Eastern. Crimean Tatar is considered not a dialect but a different language.
In Tatarstan and in some areas and villages outside of Tatarstan, Tatar is the language spoken at home and in daily life. Most Tatars are, however, also Russian citizens and speak Russian well.
Written Tatar may use either the Cyrillic or Latin alphabets. Arabic was also used until the 9th century[2]
Notes
- ↑ Agnes Kefeli, "Tatar: The Language of the Largest Minority in Russia," website of the American Association of Teachers of Turkic (accessed November 5, 2008).
- ↑ Omniglot - Tatar Language, [1] accessed November 5, 2008)