Russian Language website run by ethnic Buryats and Russians took down Russian translation of the Al Jazeera story that said ethnic Mongol-Buryats in Siberian region of Russia lost their native language..
The story which was posted at www.al-jazeera.com said Buryats, which number around 300 thousand and live around lake Baikal practically don't know their native language which is branch of Mongolian language and Russian has become everyday language for Buryat people.
Despite efforts of individual Buryat people and NGOs to promote use of Buryat language, this-branch of Mongolian language is facing extinction and this was noted in UNESCO Red book of Endangered languages.
The story was translated into Russian language and posted on www.asiarussia.com last night. However, as of today, it is taken down.
Buryat Mongols in Russia is largest group of ethnic Mongolians that lost their language and culture and identity.
Most Buryat people feel comfortable to use Russian language in their everyday life and work as there is practically no avenue to use the Buryat language in Siberia.
70% of residents of Buryat republic of Russian Federation are Russians.Buryat people has become an ethnic minority in their own land.
Many in Mongolia blame Buryats for not using their language and losing their Mongolian identity and having no interest to speak Buryat-Mongolian language. Most Russian Buryats can't even say Hello in Buryat-Mongolian language.
However, extinction of Buryat-Mongolian language in Russian Siberia doesn't mean this unique sub-branch of Mongolian language is extinct in the world. Mongolian Buryats which reside in Dornod and Khentii provinces of Mongolia still speak and use Buryat-Mongolian language.
Buryatia was called as Buryat-Mongolian Autonomous Soviet Republic until 1953 when the word "Mongol" was dropped from its name.
Buryats are most assimilated and lost their identity from Mongolian speaking ethnic groups in the world today.
Many in Mongolia blame Buryats for not using their language and losing their Mongolian identity and having no interest to speak Buryat-Mongolian language. Most Russian Buryats can't even say Hello in Buryat-Mongolian language.
However, extinction of Buryat-Mongolian language in Russian Siberia doesn't mean this unique sub-branch of Mongolian language is extinct in the world. Mongolian Buryats which reside in Dornod and Khentii provinces of Mongolia still speak and use Buryat-Mongolian language.
Buryatia was called as Buryat-Mongolian Autonomous Soviet Republic until 1953 when the word "Mongol" was dropped from its name.
Buryats are most assimilated and lost their identity from Mongolian speaking ethnic groups in the world today.
Source:Al Jazeera and staff of Mongolianviews
