Mongolian Language Dialects What Are They?

Mongolian is the official language of Mongolia, but did you know that there are actually several different dialects of Mongolian spoken throughout the country? These dialects can vary significantly in terms of pronunciation, vocabulary, and even grammar, making communication between speakers of different dialects sometimes challenging. Strap yourself in, we’re going to explore the main dialects of Mongolian and the key differences between them.

The Khalkha Dialect

Let’s start with the Khalkha dialect is spoken by the Khalkha Mongols, who are the largest ethnic group in Mongolia and make up around 80% of the country’s population. The Khalkha dialect is the standard dialect of Mongolian and is used in the media, in education, and in official settings. It is based on the speech of the Khalkha Mongols and has a relatively simple vowel system and a relatively large number of consonant phonemes. Some of the distinctive features of the Khalkha dialect include:

• The use of the suffix “-sán” to mark the possessive case, as in the phrase “my horse” (maa sán tav), which would be translated as “tav-sán” in the Khalkha dialect.
• The use of the suffix “-tai” to mark the plural form of nouns, as in the phrase “many horses” (maa tav), which would be translated as “tav-tai” in the Khalkha dialect.
• The use of the suffix “-t” to mark the past tense of verbs, as in the phrase “I went” (maa yav), which would be translated as “yav-t” in the Khalkha dialect.
• The use of the suffix “-a” to mark the future tense of verbs, as in the phrase “I will go” (maa yav), which would be translated as “yav-a” in the Khalkha dialect.

The Khalkha dialect is also known for its rich oral tradition, with a number of famous epic tales and folk songs passed down through the generations. These stories and songs are an important part of the Khalkha Mongol cultural identity and are often used to teach moral lessons and preserve the history and traditions of the Khalkha people.

The Oirat Dialect

The Oirat dialect is a unique and fascinating dialect of Mongolian spoken by the Oirat people, a minority group in Mongolia. It is also spoken by Oirat communities in China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. One of the most distinctive features of the Oirat dialect is its use of vowel harmony, a system in which the vowels in a word must agree in terms of their quality. This means that, for example, if a word contains a front vowel (such as “i” or “e”), all of the other vowels in the word must also be front vowels.

In addition to vowel harmony, the Oirat dialect has a number of other grammatical and phonological features that set it apart from other dialects of Mongolian. For example, it uses the suffix “-d” to mark the past tense of verbs and the suffix “-s” to mark the future tense. It also has a number of loanwords from other languages, such as Russian and Chinese, due to the region’s history of foreign influence.

Despite these differences, the Oirat dialect is still mutually intelligible with other dialects of Mongolian, allowing speakers of different dialects to communicate with one another. So the next time you’re travelling in Mongolia, don’t be surprised if you come across some words and phrases that sound a little bit different – it just might be the Oirat dialect at work!

The Buryat Dialect

The Buryat dialect is a dialect of Mongolian spoken by the Buryat people, a Mongolic ethnic group native to Russia and Mongolia. It is closely related to the Oirat dialect and exhibits many of the same grammatical and phonological features, such as vowel harmony and the use of certain suffixes to mark tense.

One of the most distinctive features of the Buryat dialect is its large number of loanwords from Russian and other languages. This is due to the region’s history of Russian colonization, which has had a significant impact on the Buryat language and culture. Despite these influences, the Buryat dialect is still considered a separate and distinct dialect of Mongolian and is an important part of the Buryat cultural identity.

In addition to its loanwords, the Buryat dialect has a number of other unique features that set it apart from other dialects of Mongolian. For example, it has a complex vowel system with a number of diphthongs and triphthongs, and it uses a number of vowel harmony patterns to ensure that the vowels in a word agree in terms of their quality. It also has a number of distinctive grammatical features, such as the use of the suffix “-n” to mark the past tense of verbs and the suffix “-t” to mark the future tense.

Overall, the Buryat dialect is a rich and complex language that reflects the unique history and culture of the Buryat people. It is an important part of the Buryat cultural identity and is worth exploring for anyone interested in the diversity of languages and cultures in the region.

The Inner Mongolian Dialect

The Inner Mongolian dialect is a dialect of Mongolian spoken by the Mongols in Inner Mongolia, a region of China. It is a fascinating and unique dialect that has been heavily influenced by the Chinese language, but still retains its distinct identity as a Mongolian language.

One of the most interesting features of the Inner Mongolian dialect is its use of palatalization, a process in which the sounds “k,” “g,” and “h” become pronounced with a “y” sound when followed by the vowel “i”. For example, the Inner Mongolian word for “book” is “kitaab”, with the “k” sound pronounced as a “ky” sound. This palatalization is a distinctive feature of the Inner Mongolian dialect and sets it apart from other dialects of Mongolian.

In addition to its unique pronunciation, the Inner Mongolian dialect also has a number of loanwords from Chinese, reflecting the region’s long history of Chinese influence. However, despite these influences, the Inner Mongolian dialect remains an important part of the Mongolian cultural identity in China and is an interesting and important dialect to explore for anyone interested in the diversity of languages and cultures in the region.

Other Dialects

There are several other dialects of Mongolian spoken by smaller groups in Mongolia and the surrounding region. These dialects are often spoken by ethnic minority groups and may have unique grammatical and phonological features that distinguish them from the standard Khalkha dialect.

One example of a lesser-known dialect is the Chakhar dialect, spoken by the Chakhar Mongols in eastern Mongolia. The Chakhar dialect is notable for its use of vowel harmony and its complex system of verbal conjugation. It also has a number of loanwords from Chinese and Russian due to the region’s history of foreign influence.

Another example is the Darkhad dialect, spoken by the Darkhad Mongols in northern Mongolia. The Darkhad dialect has a number of distinctive phonological features, such as the use of palatalization and the presence of nasal vowels. It also has a number of grammatical features that are unique to the dialect, such as the use of the suffix “-ne” to mark the past tense of verbs.

Overall, these lesser-known dialects of Mongolian are an important part of the cultural and linguistic diversity of Mongolia and the surrounding region. They provide insight into the unique histories and traditions of the groups that speak them and are worth exploring for anyone interested in the richness and complexity of human language.

So there you have it. Just like many languages, Mongolian has several dialects which while not well known, hold an important place in the identity of the language. We also talk about these dialects in our courses. Goldigobi’s courses are not just designed to learn a language but to immerse you in it. Why not get started today?