On the issue of the language and culture of national minorities

Mongolia is a multi-ethnic country that has preserved and developed the languages, cultures, and customs of various ethnic groups, including the Khalkha, Buryat, Darkhad, Tuvan, Kazakh, Bayad, and Durvud. However, due to modern social changes, the impact of globalization, the educational system, and the penetration of technology, the usage of their mother tongues and oral traditions is declining drastically in the region (Atifnigar et al., 2025). To study the current state of mother tongue usage, preserve and protect the language and culture of national minorities, and pass them on to future generations, this study examined the current state of Tuvan language usage and oral culture among the Tsaatan (reindeer herding) Tuvans living in Tsagaannuur soum, Khuvsgul Province, located in northern Mongolia. The Tuvans communicate in a language belonging to the Turkic language family and speak the local Dukha dialect. They are distinguished by their traditional reindeer herding and the preservation of their taiga lifestyle. As of today, more than 740 Tuvans live in the Tsagaannuur Söm of Khuvsgul Province. This study, which involved 186 participants, identifies the current usage of the language and culture of the Tsaatan Tuvans, the challenges they face, and proposes a few feasible solutions to address these challenges.