what did Genghis khan speak

In 1818. Russian scholar L. N. Spaski, while studying Russia�s ancient history in Siberia, discovered an inscribed stone monument near the Kharhiraa River, in what is now the Chita province of Russia. The inscription was carved in the ancient Mongolian script. At the time of the discovery, Spaski thought that the findings belonged to the Kuandai Ruins of ancient, Siberian Russia, not realising that the monument would amount to invaluable testimony of the Mongolian people, Mongolian Language and Mongolian culture of writing.

It was not until after the monument was taken to St. Petersburg � breaking into two pieces along the way � in 1832 that real research began on the artefact. From that time on, the stone monument became known as "Chinggis�s Stone Inscription", because the words "Chinggis Khaan" are the first two carved upon it. Some scholars call it "Yesunkhei�s (Esunhe) Stone Inscription" � Yesunkhei was one of Chinggis Khaan�s nine generals � because the meaning of the inscription concerns his achievement in archery. In the year of his discovery, Spaski transcribed the five lines of script on the stone. Mongolian history scholars Schmidt and B. Dorj attempted to make out the words on the monument from 1833 to 1848, but were unsuccessful due to the time-worn conditions of the inscription.

I. N. Klukin was also unable to read the monument�s more illegible marks.

One hundred and forty-four years after Spaski�s discovery, Mongolian archeologist and scholar Kh. Perlee interpreted today�s accepted reading of the monument and corrected the mistaken transcriptions of previous scholars.

- By modern estimates, a one-arm-span length is just over 1.6 metres � a total distance of 335 arm-span is over 535 metres. This is one proof that Mongol archery was superior at that time.

- Immortalised as "Chinggis� Stone Inscription", the writing is significant in Mongolian history, for it represents the long-held orthographic "custom" or "rule of respect" used in old Mongolian script and in Mongolian language. The rule is that the names of leaders and lords always preface, as it were, poems and literature. The fact that Chinggis Khaan�s name appears first in the inscription shows that the rule has been in place for well over 800 years, if not longer.