Khotons

The Khoton or Qotung people are a formerly Turkic, now Mongolized ethnic group in (Outer) Mongolia and Inner Mongolia. Most Khotons of Mongolia live in Uvs Province, especially in Tarialan, Naranbulag and Ulaangom, whereas Qotungs of Inner Mongolia are concentrated in Alxa League. While Khotons spoke a Turkic language Khoton until the 19th century, the majority now speak the Dörbet dialect of the Oirat language. Khotons often avoid mainstream Mongolian written culture. There were officially about 6,100 Khotons in 1989. According to the Great Russian Encyclopedia, modern Khoton people are part of the "Mongols — a group of peoples who speak Mongolian languages".