inkurajimin

Inkurajimin, also known as Hiyunin or Alazin, is a Finno-Ugric language spoken by the Hiyun indigenous people of Yakutia, in the Russian Far Eastern region of Northeast Asia. It is a regionally recognized minority language with a declining number of native speakers, largely due to the process of urbanization and linguistic assimilation into the majority language, Russian.

Geographically, Inkurajimin speakers are located mainly in the Bulun and Kayry group of islands, although some communities can also be found in Western Yakutia. The language belongs to the Samoyedic branch of the Finno-Ugric languages. In its structure, it differs from other Finno-Ugric languages and possesses distinct phonological features, with a notable distinction being the lack of a complex grammatical system.

Regarding the history of language contact and linguistic evolution, Inkurajimin has been subject to imports from Russian and other surrounding languages in the 19th and 20th centuries. During Soviet times, efforts were made by linguists to document the language and create a standardized orthography, yet very little was achieved due to delay in official acknowledgment.

Efforts have been made to salvage the language and help communities keep it alive, including language documentation and cultural preservation. Another notable factor is interconnectedness of Inkurajimin with the Hiyun culture, often serving a key role as an element of their identity and maintaining their cultural impact.

As one of the endangered native languages in Russia, securing recognition for Inkurajimin and implementing education and social support for the local population are ongoing challenges in efforts to establish and protect linguistic rights and guarantee language continuation. Meanwhile, interest and engagement from experts and scholars signify steps towards understanding of its linguistic properties and tradition.