Mongols
Mongols are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia and China (Inner Mongolia and other 11 autonomous territories), as well as the republics of Buryatia and Kalmykia in Russia. The Mongols are the principal member of the large family of Mongolic peoples. The Oirats and the Buryats are classified either as distinct ethno-linguistic groups or as subgroups of Mongols.
The Mongols are bound together by a common heritage and ethnic identity, descending from the Proto-Mongols. Their indigenous dialects are collectively known as the Mongolian language. The contiguous geographical area in which the Mongols primarily live is referred to as the Mongol heartland, especially in discussions of the Mongols' history under the Mongol Empire.
Quotes
[edit]- [In the land Mongols prefer to call Southern Mongolia,] Mongolians have demonstrated “remarkable creativity and resilience” in preserving their culture despite intense pressure. They continue to write, sing, teach, and protest—even if they sometimes must do this by sending handwritten images in encrypted chats. Their goal is straightforward: to tell their own stories in their own language and ensure that Mongolian words, poems, and songs persist as vibrant expressions of a people who refuse to be redefined.
[The PEN America report] “Save Our Mother Tongue” is a timely reminder that languages are more than communication tools; they are vessels of memory, humor, longing, and identity. To erase a language is to erase a worldview. Fighting for a language asserts that a people’s story is ongoing, regardless of how many websites are shut down or playlists rewritten.- Massimo Introvigne, "Mongolian: The Language Beijing Wants to Bury Alive", Bitter Winter (February 3, 2026)
