Votic

Votic is a nearly extinct Finno-Ugric language traditionally spoken by the Votic people in northwestern Russia. It belongs to the same language family as Estonian and Finnish but has few speakers today—most are elderly or second-language speakers. Votic features unique sounds and grammar structures, reflecting its ancient roots. Efforts are ongoing to preserve and revive the language due to its cultural significance, but it remains critically endangered. Understanding Votic offers insight into the region’s linguistic diversity and the challenges of language preservation amid globalization.