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TuvansTuvans (or Tuvinians) is a group of Turkic people, make up about two thirds of the population of Tyva. They were formerly known as Uriankhai (Uryankhai, Uryanhai, Urianhai), the name given by Mongols. There are two major ethnic grups of Tuvans in Tuva: Western Tuvans and Tuvans-Todzhins (Тувинцы-тоджинцы). The latter ones live in Todzhinsky District, Tuva Republic and constitute about 5% of all Tuvan ethnicity. The Tuvan language belongs to the Northern or Siberian branch of the Turkic language family. Four dialects are recognized: Central, Western, Southeastern and Northeastern (Todzhinian). Written language is based on Cyrillic alphabet. The traditional religion of Tuvans is animism (shamanism), which is still widely practiced alongside Buddhism. A noticeable amount of Tuvans lives in diaspora in Mongolia, the largest group being Tsengel Tuvans (Altai Tuvans), around 1,500, that live in Tsengel. Tuvans are also recognized as an ethnic minority in China. A people close Tuvans live in Okinsky District of Buryatia (self-naming: Soyot (сойоты), sometimes referred to as Okinsky Tuvans). Reference Mongush, M. V. "Tuvans of Mongolia and China." International Journal of Central Asian Studies, 1 (1996), 225-243. Talat Tekin, ed. Seoul: Inst. of Asian Culture & Development.
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