Some facts about Kazakh

THE KAZAKH LANGUAGE is a language of Kazakhstan.
Population: 5,293,400 in Kazakhstan (1979 census), 40% of the population, 98% speak Kazakh as mother tongue. Population total all countries 8,000,000 (1999 WA).
Region: Kazakhstan, northern Soviet Middle Asia and into western Siberia. Also spoken in Afghanistan, China, Germany, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia (Asia), Tajikistan, Turkey (Asia), Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
Alternate names: KAZAK, KAISAK, KOSACH, QAZAQ
Dialects: NORTHEASTERN KAZAKH, SOUTHERN KAZAKH, WESTERN KAZAKH.
Classification: Altaic, Turkic, Western, Aralo-Caspian.
Comments: Minor dialect differences. Many speak Russian or Uzbek as second language. Increasing ethnic pride and feelings of Islamic brotherhood. Semi-nomadic. The names 'Eastern Kirghiz' and 'Western Kirghiz' have been erroneously applied to Kazakh. SOV. Cyrillic script. Increasing education in Kazakh. Radio programs. Traditionally pastoralists, now agriculturalists, industrialists. Sunni Muslim. NT 1820-1910, out of print.

Also spoken in:
Afghanistan
Population: 2,000 in Afghanistan.
Alternate names: KAZAKHI, QAZAQI, QAZAQ
Dialects: NORTHEASTERN KAZAKH, SOUTHERN KAZAKH, WESTERN KAZAKH.
Comments: Literacy rate in first language: Below 1%. Muslim. NT 1820-1910, out of print.

China
Population: 1,111,718 in China (1990 census), including 830,000 Northeastern Kazakh, 70,000 Southwestern Kazakh (1982).
Alternate names: KAZAK, KAZAX, HAZAKE
Dialects: NORTHEASTERN KAZAKH, SOUTHWESTERN KAZAKH.
Comments: An official nationality in China. SOV. Literacy rate in second language: 72%. Had an official Roman alphabet; since 1980 uses a modified Arabic script. Radio programs. Pastoralists, some agriculture. Sunni Muslim, some shamanism. NT 1820-1910, out of print.

Iran
Population: 3,000 in Iran (1982 estimate).
Alternate names: KAZAK, KAZAKHI, GAZAQI
Comments: Any who are literate would use Arabic script. Muslim. NT 1820-1910, out of print.

Mongolia
Population: 120,000 (1993 Johnstone), 4% of population in Mongolia (1991).
Alternate names: KAZAKHI, QAZAQ, QAZAQI, KAZAX, KAISAK, KOSACH
Comments: Cyrillic script used. Traditionally Muslim, but now largely atheist with Muslim traditions and occultism. NT 1820-1910, out of print.

Turkey (Asia)
Population: 600 or more in Turkey (1982).
Alternate names: KAZAKHI, QAZAQI, KAZAX, KOSACH, KAISAK
Comments: Roman script used in Turkey. Muslim. NT 1820-1910, out of print.

Kazakhstan