* Uyghur: This is the dominant language in Hotan, spoken by the majority of the population. It is a Turkic language closely related to Uzbek and Kyrgyz.
* Chinese: Mandarin Chinese is the official language of China, and it is widely spoken in Hotan, particularly in government, education, and commerce.
* Other languages: While less common, other languages spoken in Hotan include:
* Khotanese: An extinct Indo-European language, once spoken in the region, with some remnants still found in religious texts and place names.
* Arabic: Spoken by a small community of Muslims who have migrated to the area.
* Persian: Spoken by a small community of Persians who have migrated to the area.
It's important to note that the language landscape in Hotan, like many parts of China, is complex and evolving. The relative prominence of these languages can vary depending on location, age, and social context.