Komi and the Komi

History

History:

For much of its history the Komi territory was untouched wilderness populated only by nomadic tribes, particularly the Komi. Novegradian traders began to penetrate this territory as early as the 1300s, and many of the Komi people were converted to Orthodoxy. Settlement and development did not enter full swing until the 19th century. Although there are a number of medium to large-sized cities in the territory, much of the forests of western Komi are still largely untouched and are now protected.

Geography

Area:	1 138 334 sq km
Coastline:	9245 km
Climate:	Short warm summers and long cold winters
Terrain:	In the west, rough, with several large rivers and large forest cover; in the east, low, flat plains with large rivers and a large amount of swampland; these two areas are divided by the Ural mountains; in the north, tundra
Elevation Extremes:	Lowest point: Arctic Ocean coast - 0 m Highest point: Gora Jöznym (Naródnaia) - 1894 m
Natural Resources:	forests, oil, natural gas, titanium, bauxite, gold, diamonds, and large deposits of over 100 other minerals

People

Population:	1 132 982 (Jan 2007 est)
Nationality:	Noun: Komi Adjective: Komi
Ethnic Groups:	The majority of the population are ethnically Komi or Novegradian. Smaller ethnic groups include the Nenets, Enets, and Khanty.
Religions:	Novegradian Orthodoxy is by far the dominant faith throughout the region. Traditional shamanistic beliefs are still practiced in some remote settlements.
Languages:	Novegradian and Komi are the official languages. Many of the other local ethnic groups speak their own languages as well.

Government

Name:	Long Form: Republic of Komi Short Form: Komi Local Long Form: Республика Коми (Novegradian), Коми Республика (Komi) Local Short Form: Коми (Novegradian), Коми-му (Komi)
Capital:	Sihtikáre (Syktyvkar)
Administrative Divisions:	3 oblosts: Iúźnei Kómi (capital Sihtikáre/Syktyvkar), Pečarouskáia (capital Pečára/Petśöra), Óbua-Ieniśéiskaia (capital Óuske/Obvakar)
Executive Branch:	Headed by a president elected to four year terms by parliament. The current head of the republican government is President Sozon Pimnou.
Legislative Branch:	Headed by a unicameral Parliament, the Jöz Öktöm.
Flag:	Three horizontal bands of equal width - blue/purple (top), green (middle), and white (bottom).

Miscellaneous

Largest Cities:	Sihtikáre/Syktyvkar, Pečara/Petśöra, Óuske/Obvakar, Úhta/Ukvakar
Major Ports:	Óuske/Obvakar, Górdkare/Gördkar
Time Zone:	UTC+4

Basic Words and Phrases in Komi

English	Komi	Transliteration	Pronunciation
Hello	Чолӧм	Tśolöm	/'tɕo.ləm/
Goodbye	Адѕысьлытӧѕ	Addźyślytödź	/'ad.dʑəɕ.lɨ.tədʑ/
So long	Став бурсö	Stav bursö	/'stav 'bur.sə/
Good Morning	Бур асыв	Bur asyv	/'bur 'a.sɨv/
Good Afternoon	Бур лун	Bur lun	/'bur 'lun/
Good Evening	Бур рыт	Bur ryt	/'bur 'rɨt/
Good Night	Бур вой	Bur voj	/'bur 'voj/
Yes	Да	Da	/'da/
No	Абу	Abu	/'a.bu/
Please	Кора	Kora	/'ko.ra/
Thank You	Аттьö	Atťö	/'at.tʲə/
How are you?	Кыѕ олан?	Kydź olan?	/'kɨdʑ 'o.lan/
What is your name?	Мый тэнад нимыд?	Myj tenad ńimyd?	/'mɨj 'te.nad 'nʲi.mɨd/
My name is...	Нимöй...	Ńimöi...	/'nʲi.məj/
Do you speak English?	Сёрнитан английскöйöн?	Śorńitan anglijsköjön?	/'ɕor.nʲi.tan 'an.gli.skə.jən/
I do not speak Komi.	Ме ог сёрнит комиöн.	Me og śorńit komiön.	/'me og 'ɕor.nʲit 'ko.mi.ən/
I understand.	Ме тэнö вежöрта.	Me tenö vežörta.	/'me 'te.nə 've.žər.ta/
I do not understand.	Ме ог тэнö вежöрт.	Me og tenö vežört.	/'me og 'te.nə 've.žərt/
Excuse me.	Менö просит.	Menö prośit.	/'me.nə 'pro.ɕit/
I'm sorry.	Кора тэнö проситны.	Kora tenö prośitny.	/'ko.ra 'te.nə 'pro.ɕit.nɨ/
Could you please help me?	Кора тэнö отсöг вылö?	Kora tenö otsög vylö?	/'ko.ra 'te.nə 'ot.səg 'vɨ.lə/
Could you speak more slowly?	Кора тэнö наѕöнджыка тайöс шуны?	Kora tenö nadźöndžyka tajös šuny?	/'ko.ra 'te.nə 'na.dʑən.džɨ.ka 'ta.jəs 'šu.nɨ/