A dying language fights for survival in Russia's Far East classrooms
The Udege language, spoken by Indigenous people in Russia’s Far East, is now critically endangered. Unofficial counts suggest fewer than ten native speakers remain. Yet in schools like the one in Krasny Yar, children such as third-grader Kamilla still learn the language as part of their lessons. Kamilla has studied Udege since first grade, though she speaks Russian at home. She knows basic words like bagdifi, which means 'hello'. The language was once passed down orally, leading to inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation.
For years, Udege was taught only by ear, without a standard written form. Today, it appears in schools from second to seventh grade as a 'native language' course. Alexandra Uza, a teacher in Krasny Yar, has spent nearly six years instructing students, learning from some of the last fluent speakers. Historically, Udege had eight dialects, but only two remain in use. One of the last native speakers was Alexander Alexandrovich Kanchuga, a teacher and writer who translated *The Little Prince* into Udege. His work helped preserve parts of the language, but UNESCO now classifies it as 'critically endangered'.
Efforts to teach Udege in schools continue, even as fluent speakers disappear. Kamilla and her classmates represent a new generation learning the language, though its survival remains uncertain. Without more support, the words and dialects of Udege could vanish entirely.
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