Afro-Asiatic , Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern. Most speakers are elderly now, many use Russian as primary language. Aisor' is the Russian name for the people. The Assyrian and Chaldean separated denominationally during the 16th century. Close linguistically to other Northeastern Aramaic varieties.
Syriac script is used.
Bible portions 1840-1993. Work in progress. In southern Dagestan, along the Caspian coast and beyond the Caucasian Mts. Altaic , Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani. High literacy rate.