Äynu language
Äynu, also known as Aini, Ejnu, or Abdal, is a Turki cryptolect spoken in Western China. It is referred to by various spellings such as Aini, Aynu, Ainu, Eyni, or Abdal in different contexts. Russian sources may mention it as Эйну́, Айну, or Абдал, while the Chinese refer to it as Ainu. Some linguists classify Äynu as a mixed language, as it primarily follows a Turkic grammar, closely resembling Yugur (similar to Uyghur), but with a predominantly Iranian vocabulary. However, other linguists dispute this classification, arguing that it does not fulfill the technical criteria of a mixed language. The Äynu people, who are nomadic, refer to their language as Äynú (ئەينۇ, [ɛjˈnu]).
Geographic distribution
Äynu is spoken in Western China in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on the edge of the Taklimakan Desert in the Tarim Basin.
Use as a secret language
The only speakers of Äynu are adult men. Uyghur is spoken with outsiders and with women, who do not speak Äynu. Äynu is spoken at home when it is not necessary to disguise one’s speech.[6]
Sounds
Consonants
| Labial | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Uvular | Glottal | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plosive | p | b | t | d | k | ɡ | q | |||||
| Affricate | t͡ʃ | d͡ʒ | ||||||||||
| Fricative | v | s | z | ʃ | χ | ʁ | ɦ | |||||
| Nasal | m | n | ŋ | |||||||||
| Flap/Tap | r | |||||||||||
| Lateral | l | |||||||||||
| Approximant | j | |||||||||||
Vowels
Numerals
Äynu numerals are borrowed fromPersian:
-
1 – yäk
-
2 – du
-
3 – si
-
4 – čar
-
5 – pänǰ
-
6 – šäš
-
7 – häp(t)
-
8 – häš(t)
-
9 – noh
-
10 – dah
-
20 – bist
-
100 – säd
-
1000 – hazar
References
[2]
Citation Linkglottolog.orgHammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). “Ainu (China)”.Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
Oct 1, 2019, 11:46 PM
[3]
Citation Linkbooks.google.comLee-Smith, Mei W. (1996). “The Ejnu language”. In Wurm, Stephen A.; Mühlhäusler, Peter; Tyron, Darrell T. (eds.).Atlas of languages of intercultural communication in the Pacific, Asia, and the Americas, Volume 2, Part 1. (Volume 13 of Trends in Linguistics, Documentation Series). Walter de Gruyter. p. 851. ISBN 978-3-11-013417-9.
Oct 1, 2019, 11:46 PM
[4]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgBakker, Peter (2003). “Mixed Languages as Autonomous Systems”. In Matras, Yaron; Bakker, Peter (eds.).The Mixed Language Debate: Theoretical and Empirical Advances. Trends in Linguistics. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. pp. 107–150. ISBN 978-3-11-017776-3.
Oct 1, 2019, 11:46 PM
[13]
Citation Linkbooks.google.comAtlas of languages of intercultural communication in the Pacific, Asia, and the Americas, Volume 2, Part 1. (Volume 13 of Trends in Linguistics, Documentation Series)
Oct 1, 2019, 11:46 PM
[17]
Citation Linken.wikipedia.orgThe original version of this page is from Wikipedia, you can edit the page right here on Everipedia.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Additional terms may apply.See everipedia.org/everipedia-termsfor further details.Images/media credited individually (click the icon for details).
Oct 1, 2019, 11:46 PM