Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-18T14:01:07.344Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Alphabet Reform in the Six Independent ex-Soviet Muslim Republics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 November 2009

JACOB M. LANDAU
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Like other elements of culture, alphabets have both practical and ethnopolitical integrating or differentiating significance. Hence, any alphabet change has serious political implications. This article will briefly consider the process of romanisation undertaken in the six newly independent Muslim states that were part of the Soviet Union (Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan); and then evaluate its success or failure and attempt to explain the causes for these phenomena.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , January 2010 , pp. 25 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Sergei A. Arutunov, ‘Who's afraid of the Latin alphabet?’, Anthropology and Archeology of Eurasia, XLVI (2007), 1, pp. 117–125.

2 Johann Uhres, ‘Le Point sur les alphabets utilisés pour les langues turciques’, Cahiers d'Études sur la Méditerranée Orientale et le Monde Turco-Iranien, XXIX (June-December 2000), pp. 287–319.

3 Sebba, Mark, Ideology and alphabets in the former USSR (Lancaster, 2003), pp. 1–24Google Scholar.

4 Ahmet Bican Ercilasun, Örneklerle bugünkü Türk alfabeleri (Ankara, 1997).

5 Bayram Balcı, ‘Coopération culturelle et éducative entre la Turquie et les rêpubliques turcophones d'Asie Centrale’, Les Dossiers de l'IFÉA, V (2001), pp. 27–41.

6 Demir, Cennet Engin, Balcı, Ayşe and Akkok, Fusun, ‘The role of Turkish schools in the educational system and social transformation of Central Asian countries: the case of Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan’, Central Asian Survey XIX (2000), 1, pp. 141–155CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

7 Alpatov, Vladimir, ‘Alphabet reform: Cyrillic or Latin’, Central Asia and the Caucasus XIV (2002), 2, pp. 117–125Google Scholar. Landau, Jacob M., ‘Attempts at romanization in the Middle East and Central Asia’, in Printing and publishing in the Middle East, ed. Sadgrove, Philip (Oxford, 2008), pp. 188–192 (Journal of Semitic Studies, Supplement 24)Google Scholar.

8 Perry, J. R., ‘Script and scripture: the three alphabets of Tajik Persian’, Journal of Central Asian Studies, II (1997), 1, pp. 2–18Google Scholar; Ganieva, Firuza, ‘Cultural reformation in Tajikistan’, Central-Asia Caucasus Analyst, IX (2007), 8, pp. 17–18Google Scholar.

9 Commercio, Michele E., ‘Exit in the Near Abroad: the Russian minorities in Latvia and Kyrgyzstan’, Post-Communism, LI (2004), 6, pp. 23–32CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

10 Peyrouse, Sébastien, ‘Nationhood and the minority question in Central Asia: the Russians in Kazakhstan’, Europe-Asia Studies, LIX (2007), 3, pp. 481–501CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

11 Aliya S. Kuzhabekova, ‘Past, present and future of language policy in Kazakhstan’, M.A. thesis, University of North Dakota (2000); Mustafa Öner, ‘Yeni Kazak alfabesi’, Türk Dili DCLXXIV (February 2007), pp. 142–150.

12 Gary C. Fouse, The languages of the former Soviet republics: their history and development (Lanham, Md., 2000), pp. 188–191; Betty Blair, ‘Alphabet changes’, Azerbaijan International, X (2002), p. 4.

13 Kosmarskii, A. A., ‘How is it possible to speak for latinization?’, Anthropology and Archeology of Eurasia, XLVI (2007), 1, pp. 68–74CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

14 Novosti, 23 May 2007. Mesamed, Vladimir, ‘Linguistic policy and the process of democratization in Uzbekistan’, in Democracy and pluralism in Muslim Eurasia, ed. Ro'i, Yaacov (London and New York, 2004), pp. 233–244Google Scholar.

15 Jacob M. Landau and Barbara Kellner-Heinkele, Politics of language in the ex-Soviet Muslim states (London, 2001); Victoria Clement, ‘Alphabet changes in Turkmenistan’, in Everyday life in Central Asia, ed. Jeff Sabadeo and Russell Zanea (Bloomington, Ind., 2007), pp. 266–280.

16 For whose alphabet problems see Sokolovskii, Sergei V., ‘Alphabets and elites: script in contemporary Russia as a political symbol’, Anthropology and Archeology of Eurasia, XLVI (2007), 1, pp. 10–35Google Scholar; Suleimanov, D. Sh., ‘The problem of restoring the Tatar alphabet on the basis of the Latin script’, Anthropology and Archeology of Eurasia, XLVI (2007), 1, pp. 54–67CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

17 Khan, Valerie S., ‘On the problems of revival and survival of ethnic minorities in post-Soviet Central Asia’, in Prospects for Democracy in Central Asia, ed. Schlyter, Birgit N. (London and New York, 2005), pp. 69–80Google Scholar.

18 Horsman, Stuart, ‘The Tajik minority in contemporary Uzbekistani politics’, in Ethnicity and democratization in the new Europe, ed. Cordell, Karl (London and New York, 1999), pp. 197–212Google Scholar.

19 Schlyter, Birgit N., ‘The Karakalpaks and other language minorities under Central Asian state rule’, in Prospects for democracy in Central Asia, ed. Schlyter, Birgit N. (London and New York, 2005), pp. 81–94Google Scholar.

20 Dave, Bhavna, ‘A shrinking reach of the state: language policy and implementation in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan’, in The transformation of Central Asia states and societies from Soviet rule to independence’, ed. Luong, Pauline Jorres (Ithaca and London, 2004), pp. 120–155Google Scholar.

21 Artyom Ulunyan, ‘Novye alfavity i starye problemy’, <http:www.ferghana.ru.article.php?id–5079> (accessed 23 April 2007).

22 Ayten Aliyeva, ‘Russkiye v Azerbaijane bez problem, no s yazikom’, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/russian/in_depth/newsid_6265000/6265714.stm> (accessed 27 July 2007).