Turkish

[Jim Rader]

The Gagauz are concentrated mainly in what is now Moldova,
though there are small minorities in Romania and Bulgaria.  Their
language is quite close to Anatolian Turkish, but I believe it's lost
vowel harmony at least partially and has some other peculiar
features.

The Pomaci (or Pomatsi, plural of Pomak) are Bulgarian-speaking
Muslims living mainly in southern Bulgaria, if I recall correctly.  By
"Sanjaks" I assume you mean the 100,00-200,00 (?) Serbian-
speaking Muslims who live in the Sanjak of Novi Pazar, a district of
Serbia north of Kosovo and east of Montenegro.  These people
suffered persecution under the Milosevic regime; what their current
status is I couldn't say. The Nogay are a Turkic-speaking people of
the North Caucasus.  If there are any in the Balkans, I don't know
about it--Balkanologists on the list have anything to say?

Jim Rader

> 	Aren't the Gaugaz [sp?] an Anatolian Turkish-speaking Christian
> ethnic group in Ukraine, Rumania et al.?
> 	BTW: On maps I've seen references to Pomaks, Sanjaks & Nogays
> (among others) in the Balkans. Are these Turkish groups, former
> Turkish-speakers or local Muslims speaking Slavic languages?

> Rick Mc Callister