Oudmourte

Discover the language

Udmurt is a Finno-Ugric language spoken mainly in the Republic of Udmurt, a subject of the Russian Federation located east of the Volga, close to Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, as well as in bordering regions. It was first codified as a written language in the late 18th century, used by Orthodox missionaries to evangelize the population in the 19th century, and became a language of instruction and literature in the 20th century. Until the 1950s, most Udmurt people lived in the countryside and enjoyed a rich oral culture, which continues to this day, particularly in song (made famous in Russia by Buranovo's "Babushkas", who represented the country at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010). Indeed, for the Udmurt people, singing is a privileged means of communication, which is why Udmurt songs are very present, even in contemporary variety shows. In the 20th century, the Udmurt people developed a rich literature, and today's young, highly urbanized generations are giving rise to an original urban culture.