Diversity in cultures and languages is part of the unique identity of a country or nation. This diversity manifests itself due to the different languages that reside within a single country. Russia, with its population of 143 million, is home to 35 official and 100 minority languages. Having such a huge population means Russia has an ethnic and linguistic diversity that is unique and distinct from its neighboring countries.
Although Russian is the country’s official language, a sizable portion of the population also speaks some other important languages. Businesses & companies wanting to capture the Russian market need to familiarize themselves with these languages. To achieve that, a professional russian translation services can provide the help and guidance needed to make it big in the Russian market.
Let’s take a quick look at the 5 most commonly spoken national languages in Russia other than Russian.
The Languages of Russia
Although Russian is the official language of Russia, many ethnic groups still speak some other languages that have become the major languages of the country.
Chechen
Belonging to the Northeast Caucasian group of languages, Chechen is the official language of the Chechen Republic, Ingushetia, and Dagestan. There are over 1.3 million speakers of the Chechen language, most of whom reside in the Chechen Republic. However, it is also a common language in neighboring parts of Ingushetia, and some regions of Dagestan. Chechen has seven dialects and a host of sub-dialects which makes it one of the major languages of Russia.
A business wanting to establish itself in Chechnya and Russia would need the assistance of a professional translation agency for accurate translation of its content. In addition, the business can also take advantage of the Chechen speakers outside Russia. These speakers live in North Ossetia, Georgia, and Jordan.
Tatar
The official language of the Republic of Tatarstan, Tatar, is spoken by over 4 million Russians. It is also commonly spoken in neighboring regions of Bashkortostan, Udmurtia, Mari El, and Ural. It has three distinct dialects; Kazan (central), Mishar (western), and Siberian (eastern). The Mishar dialect resembles the ancient Tatar the most, while Kazan is deemed the most modern one. The eastern Siberian dialect is so different from the other dialects that linguists often treat it as a separate language on its own.
Moreover, Tatar is such an important language in Russia that schools teach it as an official language. It is also a part of publications in literature, art, entertainment, and the media. The fact that it has so many speakers makes it one of the majority-spoken languages in Russia.
Bashkir
Bashkir belongs to the Turkic class of languages and has over 1.1 million speakers. The language holds official status in the Republic of Bashkortostan, where it is used in education, media, and print. This Republic has over 1.5 million speakers, all of whom speak its official Bashkir language. However, a third of this population is not even Bashkir; their family ties belong to Tatar, Russia, Chuvash, and Mari. Moreover, Bashkir becomes an essential and interesting language to learn because of the linguistic diversity its speakers hold.
Bashkir relates to the Tatar language and is widely spoken in different areas of Russia. These specific regions include Volga, the Ural region (Orenburg and Chelyabinsk), and neighboring areas of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Above all, Bashkir is backed by three regional dialects and several minor sub-dialects. These key dialects are further divided into Southern, Eastern, and Northwestern dialects.
Ukrainian
Ukrainian is the official and widely spoken language in Ukraine, Russia’s neighboring country, belonging to the Indo-European family of languages. Having a whopping 1.8 million speakers, it is one of the major languages in Russia. The audience of Ukrainians reside across Russia in many regions. These areas include the Northern Region, Yamal and Komi, Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Region and the Crimean Peninsula in the South.
Being the second most spoken Slavic language after Russian, Ukrainian holds crucial value. Moreover, it is regarded as the 26th most spoken language around the world. In contrast, both languages have some common terminologies. Ukrainian is closer to Belarusian, Serbian, and Polish for its vocabulary. Qualified Ukrainian translation companies can enable businesses to make a strong reputation by collaborating with them.
Chuvash
Chuvas comes from the Bulgar group of Turkic languages, similar to Bashkir language. The language is widely adopted in the Chuvash Republic and is the only preserved language of the Oghur languages. Chuvsh language has nothing in common with other Turkic languages despite having its roots from Turkic origins. Being the official language of Chuvashia, Chuvash has more than one million speakers in Russia, belonging to the Povolzhye region.
Moreover, Chuvash is a common language in various parts of the Volga, Ural, and Siberian regions. The language originally comes from the Old Turkic alphabet and Arabic script. Its native speakers write Chuvash in Cyrillic today. It is a widespread language in media and academics in educational institutes.
Key Takeaway
Russia is widely popular for its rich culture and remarkable history.Global ventures and businesses are focusing on its official language to expand their network in the Russian market. We also discussed some major languages that cover a huge part of the linguistic frame in this region. These languages are essential for every individual or business who is planning to expand the business into the Russian market. Effective communication will ensure streamline business operations and access to new markets.