ILI TURKI (China)

Family
Eastern-(Chagatay)-Turkic languages 

Country
China

Language code
ILI

Continent
Asia

Alternate language names
T'URK, TUERKE

Genetic affiliation
Altaic, Turkic, Eastern

Geographical region
Ili Valley near Kuldja, Xinjiang. Probably some in Kazakhstan

Population
120 approximately, or at least 30 households in China (1980 R.F. Hahn)

Status
Needs survey

Remarks
Reported to be a link between Chagatai and Kypchak (Uzbek dialect). Ethnically and linguistically distinct, discovered in 1956. Their oral history says they came from the Ferghana Valley (Uzbekistan/Kyrghyzstan) about 200 years ago. Spoken by older people. Younger people are intermarrying with neighboring groups. They understand Ili Turki but are adopting Kazakh or Uyghur

Total speakers
120 approximately

Also in
Kazakhstan