Definition & Bedeutung von "Tungusic languages"

What are "Tungusic languages"?

Tungusic languages are a small language family spoken primarily in Siberia and northeastern China, with notable languages including Evenki, Manchu, and Nanai. These languages are characterized by features such as agglutinative grammar, where words are formed by adding affixes, and vowel harmony, which means that vowels within a word influence each other. Historically, the Manchu language played a significant role in China as the language of the Qing Dynasty. However, many Tungusic languages are now endangered, with only a few speakers remaining. The study of Tungusic languages offers insights into the history, culture, and migration patterns of the peoples of Siberia and northeastern Asia, as well as the historical influence of the Manchu people in China.