Pumpokol language

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Pumpokol (gebeŋ-aj) was a Yeniseian language once spoken by the Pumpokol people (Gebéŋ) in the Yenisei region of Russia. It became extinct in the 18th century and is poorly documented.

Relation and classification
- It shares features with the Xiongnu and Jie languages. Some researchers (like Vovin, Vajda, and de la Vaissière) see a close link to Jie and Xiongnu.
- Its exact place in Yeniseian is debated. Some classify it as a Ket dialect or as its own branch, while others argue against a distinct “Southern Yeniseian” unit. In 2024, Vajda cautioned that Arin, Pumpokol, and Kott-Assan do not show clear shared innovations to support a Southern Yeniseian grouping.
- The name Pumpokol comes from a Khanty term meaning “grassy village.” Pumpokols and Yughs mixed in the Pumpokol district, which can lead to labeling and labeling confusion.

Notes on language and origin
- A notable feature is that Pumpokol often changes the /s/ sound to /t/. This change also appears in Jie, suggesting a closer link between Jie and Pumpokol.
- Some Yeniseian place-names in northern Mongolia are thought to be Pumpokolic.
- Some materials labeled Pumpokol are actually related to Ket (Ketic) materials, and Tailleur suggested Pumpokol could be a Ket dialect.

Phonology and records
- Old notes (such as those by Müller) provide reconstructed vowels and consonants, with many consonants being treated as allophones rather than separate sounds.
- Only a small set of Pumpokol words is known today, including entries cited in Werner (2005).

Extinction
- The language disappeared in the 18th century, leaving only fragments for linguists to study.