Evenki (Эвэнки/Ēwēnki)

Evenki is part of the Manchu-Tungus sub-group of Altaic languages and has about 20,000 speakers. It is spoken in the Evenki Autonomous District, or Evenkia (Эведы Автомоды Округ) in Russia, and also in parts of China and Mongolia. Approximately 45% of the Evenki people consider Evenki their mother tongue. Most of the speakers are elderly and the younger generation lack a thorough knowledge of the language. This is because until 1980 the Russian government tried to suppress the Evenki language, but since then Evenki has been taught in schools.

Evenki, which is also known as Evenk, Avenki, Avenk or Tungus, has much in common with Mongolian and related languages. It has been strongly influenced by Yakut, Buryat and Russian.

Evenkia is the remotest inhabited part of Siberia. Until the 1930s, the Evenki people were mainly nomadic hunters and reindeer herders. Today hunting and reindeer herding are still important, but they are also involved in argriculture and industry.

The English word "shaman" comes from the Evenki word meaning "holy man".

Evenki was first written during the 1920s with a version of the Cyrillic alphabet. In China it is written the Latin alphabet, and used to be written with the Traditional Mongolian script.

Evenki alphabet (Mongolian)

Evenki Mongolian alphabet

Evenki alphabet (Latin)

Evenki Latin alphabet

Evenki alphabet (Cyrillic)

Evenki Cyrillic alphabet

The letters in blue are only used in Russian names and loanwords

Information on pronunciation compiled by Wolfram Siegel

Sample text

Упкат илэл ты̄нмукирди, урэ̄лди мэ̄нңи са̄рича̄ди балдыдяра. Нуңартын дялитви, һалдяндыви биси, мэмэгӣлвэр аяралды̄дяна тэдет о̄мамачитын.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)