Izilakh people

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Izilakhs
Hizílahas
伊犁人
Hizilakh.png
Total population
259,608 (2015)
Languages
First language
Izilakh
Second language
Tokhari, Mandarin, Russian
Religion
Traditional religions (including Buddhism)
Related ethnic groups
Winja (speculative)

The Izilakhs (Izilakh: Hizílahas, singular Hizílax; Mandarin: 伊犁人 yīlírén) are an ethnic group native to Ili Prefecture in Loulan. Formerly much more widespread throughout the province, they are now mostly limited to the areas along the Kax River.

The Izilakhs speak the Izilakh language, which forms an independent branch within the Indo-European family of languages. Interestingly, Izilakh exhibits centumisation, distinguishing it from the nearer Indo-Iranian and Balto-Slavic languages but in common with Western European languages and with Tocharian, although it is not clearly descended from or related to the latter.