[2] Though traditionally considered one language, Southern Altai and the Northern varieties are not fully mutually intelligible.

In 2006, in the Altay kray, an alphabet was created for the Kumandin variety.

[4] According to data from the 2002 Russian Census, 65,534 people in Russia stated that they have command of the Altay language.

Closely related to the northern varieties of Altay are the Kondoma dialect [ru; tr] of the Shor language and the Lower Chulym dialect of the Chulym language.

[10] The following features refer to the outcome of commonly used Turkic isoglosses in Northern Altay.