Languages of Azerbaijan
National or official language: North Azerbaijani.
7,669,000 (1998 UN). Formerly part of USSR. Capital: Baku. 33,400 square miles.
Literacy rate 98%. Also includes Aghul 32, Assyrian Neo-Aramaic 1,231, South
Azerbaijani, Belarusan 4,782, Dargwa 863, Erzya 1,150, Western Farsi, Georgian
13,595, Karachay-Balkar 184, Lak 1,205, Lishan Didan 100, Lomavren, Osetin
2,315, Polish 1,264, Pontic, Romanian 1,397, Russian 475,000, Rutul 111,
Tabassaran 279, Tatar 31,787, Turkish 18,000, Ukrainian 32,000. Information
mainly from T. Sebeok 1963; A. Grjunberg 1963; Q. Voroshil 1972; A. Kibrik 1991.
Muslim, Jewish. Data accuracy estimate: B. The number of languages listed for
Azerbaijan is 14. Of those, all are living languages. Diversity index 0.37.
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Spoken living languages
ARMENIAN
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[ARM] Nagorno-Karabakh region. Alternate names: HAIEREN, SOMKHURI, ERMENICE, ARMJANSKI. Dialects:
WESTERN ARMENIAN. Classification:
Indo-European, Armenian.
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AVAR
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[AVR] 44,000 in Azerbaijan (1989 census). Northwest,
Zaqatala and Balakan regions. Alternate
names: AVARO, DAGESTANI. Dialects:
ZAQATALA (ZAKATALY, CHAR). Classification:
North Caucasian, Northeast, Avaro-Andi-Dido, Avar.
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AZERBAIJANI, NORTH
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[AZE] 6,069,453 in Azerbaijan. In the republics of
the former USSR, 98% of the ethnic group speak Azerbaijani as mother
tongue, 4,000,000 are monolingual (1989 census). Population total all
countries 7,059,000. Including second language speakers: 15,000,000 (1999
WA). Alternate names:
AZERBAIJAN, AZERI TURK, AZERBAYDZHANI. Dialects:
QUBA, DERBEND, BAKU, SHAMAKHI, SALYAN, LENKARAN, QAZAKH, AIRYM, BORCALA,
TEREKEME, QYZYLBASH, NUKHA, ZAQATALA (MUGALY), QABALA, YEREVAN, NAKHCHIVAN,
ORDUBAD, GANJA, SHUSHA (KARABAKH), KARAPAPAK. Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani.
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BUDUKH
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[BDK] 2,000 (1977 Voegelin and Voegelin). Quba
region. Alternate names: BUDUX,
BUDUG, BUKUKHI, BUDUGI. Dialects:
BUDUKH, YERGYUCH. Classification:
North Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian.
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JUDEO-TAT
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[TAT] 24,000 in Azerbaijan (1989 census). Northeast,
especially Quba region, Baku, and Derbent (Russia). None in Iran. Alternate
names: JUDEO-TATIC, JEWISH TAT, BIK, DZHUHURIC, JUWRI, JUHURI. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Tat.
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KHALAJ
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[KJF] Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern.
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KHINALUGH
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[KJJ] 1,500. Quba. Alternate
names: KHINALUG, XINALUG, KHINALUGI. Classification:
North Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian.
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KRYTS
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[KRY] 6,000 (1975 SIL). Quba. Alternate names: KRYZ, KRYC, KRYZY, KATSY, DZEK, DZHEK, DZHEKI. Dialects:
KRYTS, DZHEK, XAPUT (KHAPUT), YERGYUDZH, ALYK. Classification:
North Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian.
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KURMANJI
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[KUR] 20,000 in Azerbaijan (1989 census). Southwest. Alternate
names: NORTHERN KURDISH, KERMANJI, KIRMANJI, KIRDASI, KIRMĀNCHA. Classification:
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish.
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LEZGI
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[LEZ] 171,400 in Azerbaijan (1996). Near the
northeastern border with Russia and on the southern slopes of the main
Caucasus chain. Alternate names:
LEZGIAN, LEZGHI, LEZGIN, KIURINTY. Dialects:
QUBA. Classification: North
Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian.
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TALYSH
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[TLY] 800,000 to 1,000,000 in Azerbaijan (1996).
Population total both countries 800,000 to 2,000,000. Alternate names: TALISH, TALESH, TALYSHI. Dialects: ASTARA, LENKORAN, LERIK, MASSALI. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western,
Northwestern, Talysh.
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TAT, MUSLIM
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[TTT] 22,000 in Azerbaijan (1979 census). Population
total both countries 30,000 (1994 UBS). Alternate
names: MUSSULMAN TATI, MUSLIM TAT, TATI. Dialects: QUBA, DEVECHI, QONAQKEND, QYZYL QAZMA,
ARUSKUSH-DAQQUSHCHU (KHYZY), ABSHERON, BALAKHANI, SURAKHANI, LAHYJ, MALHAM.
Classification: Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Tat.
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TSAKHUR
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[TKR] 13,000 in Azerbaijan (1989 census). Population
total all countries 20,000 (1994 UBS). Alternate
names: SAKHUR, TSAXUR, TSAKHURY, CAXUR. Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian.
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UDI
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[UDI] 4,200 in Azerbaijan (Nic) (1995). Population
total all countries 8,800. Alternate
names: UDIN, UTI. Dialects:
OGHUZ (VARTASHEN), NIDZH (NIJ, NIC, NIZH), OKTOMBERI. Classification: North Caucasian, Northeast, Lezgian.
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