Crimean Tatar dialects

The Crimean Tatar language consists of two dialects. The standard language is written in the middle dialect (bağçasaray, orta yolaq), which is part of the Kipchak-Cuman sub-branch. There is also the northern dialect, also known as the Nogai dialect (noğay, çöl, şimaliy), which is in the Kipchak-Nogai sub-branch.

Middle dialect

The middle dialect was traditionally spoken in the foothills of the Crimean Mountains, bordering the Kefe Eyalet by the sedentary population living in the cities.

Standard Crimean Tatar and its middle dialect are classified as a language of the Cuman (Russian: кыпчакско-половецкая) subgroup of the Kipchak languages and the closest relatives are Karachay-Balkar, Karaim, Krymchak, Kumyk, Urum and extinct Cuman. The middle dialect, although thought to be of Kipchak-Cuman origin, combines elements of both Cuman and Oghuz languages.

The Cuman language arrived in Crimea with the first Turkic invasions of Crimea by Cumans and Pechenegs in the 11th Century. The Cuman language as it developed in Crimea is thought to have been the lingua franca of the Crimean Khanate.

Southern dialect

The southern or coastal dialects is spoken by Yalıboylu ("coastal dwellers") who have traditionally lived on the southern coast of the Crimea. Their dialects belong to the Oghuz group of the Turkic languages which includes Turkish, Azeri and Turkmen. This dialect is most heavily influenced by Turkish and shares much of the vocabulary.[1]

Northern dialect

The Northern, Nogai or Desert dialect (noğay, çöl, şimaliy) was traditionally spoken by Crimean Tatars in North Crimea. It has Nogai influence and even there are people who say that this dialect is part of Nogai language[2] and related to Kazakh, Karakalpak, and Nogai proper. This dialect was spoken by former nomadic inhabitants of the Crimean (Nogay) steppe. It is thought that the Nogays of the Crimea and the Nogais of the Caucasus and Volga are of common origin from the Nogai Horde, which is reflected in their common name and very closely related languages. In the past some speakers of this dialects also called themselves Qıpçaq (that is Cumans).

References

  1. ^ National movements and national identity among the Crimean Tatars: (1905-1916). BRILL. 1996. ISBN 9789004105096.
  2. ^ "Kırım Çöl Şi̇vesi̇ = Nogayca".
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