Linguistic Geography of Tundra Nenets: the History of the Eastern Groups

Abstract

The article examines the historical geographic distribution of the Tundra Nenets language in the eastern part of its distribution and visualizes it using detailed maps. The article covers the period from the 17th century onwards, when the first more or less reliable data on the distribution of the Tundra Nenets and their language in the Siberian part of Russia appeared. The discussion begins by outlining the earlier ethnolinguistic situation of the territories concerned. Then, individual groups/regions of the Siberian Nenets are examined in detail, from the Voikar areas to the territories where the Nenets appeared only in the 18th century (the Taz and Yenisei Rivers). Each region’s settlement history from the 16th to the 21st centuries is analysed in detail, with accompanying demographic data provided for these periods. The conclusion offers a comprehensive overview of population trends among the individual Tundra Nenets groups by the year.