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The AinuJapaneseLanguage is a language isolate spoken in Japan. SIL code: AIN. ISO 639-2: mis. Population: 15 active speakers (1996 Alexander Vovin). In the ethnic group: 15,000 in Japan. Population total both countries 15. Region: Kuril Islands (Tsishima), Hokkaido. Formerly also on south Sakhalin Island, Russia. Alternate names: AINU ITAK. Dialects: TSISHIMA, SAKHALIN. Comments: The last speaker of Sakhalin dialect died in 1994. There were at least 19 dialects. Bilingualism in Japanese. Most of the people speak only Japanese and are integrated into Japanese culture. The Ainu in China is a different, unrelated language. SOV. Nearly extinct. NT 1897. Also spoken in: Russia (Asia). (Language name: AINU.) Dialects: SAKHALIN (SAGHILIN), TARAIKA, HOKKAIDO (EZO, YEZO), KURIL (SHIKOTAN). Comments: Ainu has not been determined to be related linguistically to any other language. Sources list up to 19 dialects. The last speaker of Sakhalin dialect died in 1994. Except for 15 speakers (1996), the Ainu in Japan speak Japanese. The Ainu spoken in China is a different, unrelated language. Nearly extinct. NT 1897.(extract from http://www.ethnologue.com/)
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