Sarah
01-02-2005, 05:05 AM
Krymchak
Number of native speakers: 1 speaker left
The Krimchak (called Krimtschaki in Russian) have been seen as one of the smallest and least-known Jewish groups by the Nazis and Stalin. They lived on the Crimean peninsula (especially in Kaffa). Important settlements of Krimchaks began in the 16th century. They spoke a form of Crimean Tatar. In 1926 there were 6000 speakers of the Krimchak language. Today, there are virtually none. The Krimchaks did not know the Hebrew language but they did use the Hebrew script. Their occupations were primarily farming and crafts. The exact origins of the Krimchak Tatars are unclear. (contributed by Kevin Brook)
http://www.houseofthesmalllanguages.org/Langages/Europe/Krymchak/Rebi1.jpg
Mr. Dadid Illitch Rebi
geographical area
Geographical location: originally among Crimean Tatar but now scattered in various places of deportation, mainly in Central Asia
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Votian
Their own ethnic name is Vadjalain (pl. Vadjalaizõt)
Number of native speakers: approx. 50 speakers at most, all of whom prefer Russian
mean age of youngest speakers: approx. 50
degree of speakers' competence: all idiolects are heavily contaminated by Ingrian, Finnish and Russian
Relationships: /Finnic/Finno-Ugrian (Uralic)
Under Soviet rule, population diminished by 90% between 1926 and 1959. Since then, the Votes have, as far as possible, concealed their Votic identity, pretending to be Russian in the predominantly Russian environment. The Russians who live in the Votic villages are totally unaware that such people even exist.
children speakers: probably none
Variant(s): (in Russian) vodskij [jazyk], (in Estonian) vadja, (in Finnish) vatja
http://www.houseofthesmalllanguages.org/Langages/Europe/votian/a%20votian%20woman.jpg
(speaker)
geographical area
Three small areas on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland in St. Petersburg Province: (i) cape of (in Finnish) Hevaa in the Kovashi River area in Lomonosov County, (ii) cape of Soykin (Soikkola) in Kingisepp County, and (iii) cape of Kurkola in the lower Luga River area in the same county; a fourth area was formerly along the Oredezh River in Gatchina County.
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Karaim
Number of native speakers: There are only about 50 people in Lithuania who can still understand Karaim and can use the language in everyday conversation. In the Ukraine the number of speakers is eight. The Karaims in Poland do not use Karaim when communicating with each other but there are still some 'rusty speakers' who remember the language. Although Karaim in the Crimea is regarded as being extinct today, there are some young people who are trying to revive the language by learning it from books.
children speakers: probably none
mean age of youngest speakers: not known
degree of speakers' competence: possibly not fully competent
Kipchak/Common Turkic
http://www.houseofthesmalllanguages.org/Langages/Europe/karaim/karaim.jpg (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/6623/karaim.htm)
speaker(s)
geographical area
originally Crimea, the Ukraine, where small communities may remain near Evpatoriya; since early times translocated in Trakai (Troki) and a few other places in Lithuania; also around the west Ukrainian cities of Luck and Galich.
UKRAINE, LITHUANIA
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South Sámi
also spelled Sami, Saami; Lappish (derogatory)
Number of native speakers: a few hundred speakers, many of whom prefer Scandinavian (Swedish-Norwegian), out of a much larger ethnic population. Most speakers are likely to mix Scandinavian elements in their speech.
children speakers: very few children learn the language, and probably none of them become active users.
Sámi/Finno-Ugrian (Uralic)
http://www.houseofthesmalllanguages.org/Langages/Europe/southsami/Ingwar%20Ahren.jpg
Ingwar Ahren
geographical area
Idre area in Dalarna Province, Härjedalen, Jämtland, and Åsele Lappmark; Trondelag Province and southern Nordland Province
Sweden / Norway
More (http://www.helsinki.fi/~tasalmin/europe_index.html#class) endangered languages, indexed by language family/subfamily.
750 Extinct or Endangered Languages (http://www.yourdictionary.com/elr/nextinct.html#europe)
Number of native speakers: 1 speaker left
The Krimchak (called Krimtschaki in Russian) have been seen as one of the smallest and least-known Jewish groups by the Nazis and Stalin. They lived on the Crimean peninsula (especially in Kaffa). Important settlements of Krimchaks began in the 16th century. They spoke a form of Crimean Tatar. In 1926 there were 6000 speakers of the Krimchak language. Today, there are virtually none. The Krimchaks did not know the Hebrew language but they did use the Hebrew script. Their occupations were primarily farming and crafts. The exact origins of the Krimchak Tatars are unclear. (contributed by Kevin Brook)
http://www.houseofthesmalllanguages.org/Langages/Europe/Krymchak/Rebi1.jpg
Mr. Dadid Illitch Rebi
geographical area
Geographical location: originally among Crimean Tatar but now scattered in various places of deportation, mainly in Central Asia
----
Votian
Their own ethnic name is Vadjalain (pl. Vadjalaizõt)
Number of native speakers: approx. 50 speakers at most, all of whom prefer Russian
mean age of youngest speakers: approx. 50
degree of speakers' competence: all idiolects are heavily contaminated by Ingrian, Finnish and Russian
Relationships: /Finnic/Finno-Ugrian (Uralic)
Under Soviet rule, population diminished by 90% between 1926 and 1959. Since then, the Votes have, as far as possible, concealed their Votic identity, pretending to be Russian in the predominantly Russian environment. The Russians who live in the Votic villages are totally unaware that such people even exist.
children speakers: probably none
Variant(s): (in Russian) vodskij [jazyk], (in Estonian) vadja, (in Finnish) vatja
http://www.houseofthesmalllanguages.org/Langages/Europe/votian/a%20votian%20woman.jpg
(speaker)
geographical area
Three small areas on the southern shore of the Gulf of Finland in St. Petersburg Province: (i) cape of (in Finnish) Hevaa in the Kovashi River area in Lomonosov County, (ii) cape of Soykin (Soikkola) in Kingisepp County, and (iii) cape of Kurkola in the lower Luga River area in the same county; a fourth area was formerly along the Oredezh River in Gatchina County.
----
Karaim
Number of native speakers: There are only about 50 people in Lithuania who can still understand Karaim and can use the language in everyday conversation. In the Ukraine the number of speakers is eight. The Karaims in Poland do not use Karaim when communicating with each other but there are still some 'rusty speakers' who remember the language. Although Karaim in the Crimea is regarded as being extinct today, there are some young people who are trying to revive the language by learning it from books.
children speakers: probably none
mean age of youngest speakers: not known
degree of speakers' competence: possibly not fully competent
Kipchak/Common Turkic
http://www.houseofthesmalllanguages.org/Langages/Europe/karaim/karaim.jpg (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/6623/karaim.htm)
speaker(s)
geographical area
originally Crimea, the Ukraine, where small communities may remain near Evpatoriya; since early times translocated in Trakai (Troki) and a few other places in Lithuania; also around the west Ukrainian cities of Luck and Galich.
UKRAINE, LITHUANIA
----
South Sámi
also spelled Sami, Saami; Lappish (derogatory)
Number of native speakers: a few hundred speakers, many of whom prefer Scandinavian (Swedish-Norwegian), out of a much larger ethnic population. Most speakers are likely to mix Scandinavian elements in their speech.
children speakers: very few children learn the language, and probably none of them become active users.
Sámi/Finno-Ugrian (Uralic)
http://www.houseofthesmalllanguages.org/Langages/Europe/southsami/Ingwar%20Ahren.jpg
Ingwar Ahren
geographical area
Idre area in Dalarna Province, Härjedalen, Jämtland, and Åsele Lappmark; Trondelag Province and southern Nordland Province
Sweden / Norway
More (http://www.helsinki.fi/~tasalmin/europe_index.html#class) endangered languages, indexed by language family/subfamily.
750 Extinct or Endangered Languages (http://www.yourdictionary.com/elr/nextinct.html#europe)