Izilakh people
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Hizílahas 伊犁人 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Total population | |
| 44,840 (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 Nilka County 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.