Ob-Ugric languages
The Ob-Ugric languages are a hypothetical branch of the Uralic languages, specifically referring to the Khanty (Ostyak) and Mansi (Vogul) languages. Both are split in numerous and highly divergent dialects. They, along with Hungarian, comprise the Ugric branch of the Uralic languages.
The languages are spoken in the region between the Urals and the Ob River and the Irtysh in central Russia. The forests and forest steppes of the southern Urals are thought to be the original homeland of the Ugric branch. Beginning some 500 years ago the arrival of the Russians pushed the speakers eastward to the Ob and Irtysh. Some Mansi speakers remained west of the Urals until as late as the early 20th century. Hungarian split off during the 11th century BC.
The status of the Ob-Ugric languages as a close areal grouping is clear, with adjacent varieties regularly sharing isoglosses and having loaned vocabulary back and forth (as well as from common external sources, e.g. from eastern dialects of Komi into northern dialects of Mansi and Khanty). This effect is particularly clear between the more eastern and northern varieties of Mansi, and the more western varieties of Khanty. Modern-day Northern Mansi and Northern Khanty continue to affect each other's evolution. Some areal similarities are also shared with their eastern Samoyedic relatives, in particular between Khanty and Selkup, but also Forest Nenets. The relationship to Hungarian is looser: in their current state, the Ob-Ugric languages are radically different from Hungarian in phonology, syntax, and vocabulary.
Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug
Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug — Yugra or Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Ugra (Russian: Ха́нты-Манси́йский автоно́мный о́круг — Югра́, Khanty-Mansiysky avtonomny okrug – Yugra), is a federal subject of Russia (an autonomous okrug of Tyumen Oblast). Population: 1,532,243 (2010 Census).
The people native to the region are the Khanty and the Mansi, known collectively as Ob Ugric people. The local languages, Khanty language and Mansi language, enjoy special status in the autonomous okrug and along with their distant relative Hungarian are part of the Ugric branch of the Finno-Ugric languages. Russian remains the only official language.
The majority (51%) of the oil produced in Russia comes from Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug, giving the region great economic importance.
History
The okrug was established on December 10, 1930, as Ostyak–Vogul National Okrug (Остя́ко-Вогу́льский национа́льный о́круг). In October 1940, it was renamed the Khanty-Mansi National Okrug. In 1977, along with other national okrugs of the Russian SFSR, it became an autonomous okrug (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug). The administrative center is Khanty-Mansiysk. In 2003, the word "Yugra" was appended to the official name.
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