Mongolian studies
Mongolian studies is an interdisciplinary field examining Mongolia, Mongolian history and culture, and the Mongolian language and its literature.
Mongolian language: A Mongolic language spoken chiefly in Mongolia and by communities in China and elsewhere. Its structure, varieties, and written traditions form a central strand of the field.
Mongolian script: A vertical writing system historically used for Mongolian and still used by some Mongolian communities. Its forms and historical use matter for reading manuscripts and understanding writing reforms.
Secret History of the Mongols: A thirteenth-century Mongolian text recounting the rise of Chinggis Khan and his lineage. It is a foundational source for Mongolian language, literature, and early imperial history.
Central Asian studies: An interdisciplinary field studying the histories, societies, languages, and cultures of Central Asia. It provides regional comparisons while treating Mongolia’s connections with Inner Asia.
Mongolian language policy: Government decisions and institutions that shape language use, teaching, and status in Mongolia. Policy debates affect script choice, education, and the position of minority languages.
Mongolian literature: Literature composed in Mongolian, including oral traditions, classical texts, and modern writing. Literary texts preserve and transform Mongolian cultural expression across periods.
Mongolian Cyrillic alphabet: The Cyrillic-based alphabet used for standard Mongolian in Mongolia. Knowledge of this alphabet opens access to much modern Mongolian publishing and documentation.
Mongolian People's Republic: The socialist state established in Mongolia in 1924 and replaced by the present republic in 1992. Its institutions reshaped education, language policy, research, and access to historical materials.
Sinology: The academic study of China, including its languages, history, literature, and culture. Mongolian history and communities have long interacted with Chinese states and scholarship.
Mongolian diaspora: Mongolian communities living outside Mongolia, including long-established populations and more recent migrants. Diaspora research tests how identity and language change across borders and generations.