Tatar language

Tatar is a Turkic language spoken by over 7 million people globally. It is a major part of the identity for many communities. Most speakers live in Russia, particularly in the Republic of Tatarstan.

However, Tatar communities also exist in many other countries. These include Turkey, China, Kazakhstan, and the United States. It is also spoken in parts of Europe, such as Finland and Latvia. For many, Tatar is a mother tongue that connects them to their history.

Linguistically, Tatar belongs to the Kipchak branch of the Turkic language family. This means it is closely related to languages like Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Bashkir.

While it shares roots with Crimean Tatar and Siberian Tatar, those are considered distinct languages. Tatar is not just a single way of speaking. It is made up of different dialects that vary by region. These dialects include the Central Dialect and the Western Dialect. The Central Dialect, often called the Qazan dialect, is the most common form. It serves as the basis for the standard literary Tatar used in writing.

The Western Dialect is known as Mishar. It has distinct sounds that set it apart from the Central Dialect. For example, it lacks certain sounds like the uvular "q" and "ğ." Some linguists believe the Mishar dialect is very close to ancient Kipchak speech.

There is also the question of Siberian Tatar. Some scholars view Siberian Tatar as a third dialect group. Others argue it is an entirely independent language. This is because the dialects in Siberia can be very different from one another. They are often difficult for standard Tatar speakers to understand.

Writing Tatar has changed many times throughout history. For most of its past, the language used the Arabic script.

In the 20th century, different alphabets were introduced. Since 1939, the Cyrillic script has been the primary way to write the language. There have also been several Latin-based versions used over the years. In 1999, Tatarstan passed a law to establish an official Latin alphabet. However, a Russian federal law in 2002 made Cyrillic the only official script in the republic. Today, people may still use Latin or Arabic scripts unofficially.

The sound system of Tatar is quite complex, especially its vowels. The language has approximately nine or ten native vowels. It also uses a few extra vowels borrowed from Russian.

Scientists have different theories about how these vowels work. Some researchers suggest there are only two vowel heights: high and low. Others, like the scientist Makhmutova, propose three heights: high, mid, and low. The position of the tongue also plays a role. Vowels can be categorized by whether they are front, central, or back.

The use of the language has faced many changes in recent years. During the 20th century, the usage of Tatar saw a decline. In the 1980s, teaching the language was mostly limited to rural schools. This was partly because higher education was almost entirely in Russian. In Tatarstan, the language is very strong in rural areas. In the 2010 census, 93% of Tatars in the republic reported knowing the language. However, since 2017, Tatar language classes are no longer mandatory in Tatarstan schools. Some people worry this might make the language more endangered in the future.

Tatar remains a vital part of the Volga-Ural region's culture. It is an official language in the Republic of Tatarstan. This means it is used alongside Russian in many important ways.

Even with the challenges of changing scripts and school rules, millions continue to speak it. It connects people across vast distances, from the cities of Russia to communities in China and beyond. The language continues to be a living bridge to a rich Turkic heritage.