G. AKHMETOVA: «MODERNIZATION OF THE LANGUAGE AND WRITING IS A SERIOUS STEP, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHICH WILL BE MANIFESTED THROUGH THE PRISM OF HISTORICAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DIMENSIONS»

The Head of State determined the phased transition of the Kazakh language to the Latin script as one of the important tasks for the near future.

In the context of the task, the Decree of the President “On the translation of the Kazakh alphabet from the Cyrillic alphabet to the Latin script” is an important historical step marking the start of our country in a new era.   

It should be noted that since the gaining of the independence, the problem of reforming the Kazakh alphabet, improving the language and writing was on the agenda and was repeatedly raised by public figures, philologists and representatives of the intelligentsia.

Modernization of the language and writing is a serious step, the significance of which will be manifested through the prism of historical, cultural, economic and political dimensions. And yet, today we can note a variety of advantages of the transition of the Kazakh alphabet to the Latin script. In general, it will allow Kazakhstan to integrate into the global system of science, education and information at a higher, qualitative level, and will open access to new technologies and modern research.

On the practical side, it is simple, elegant, economy (32 letters) and easy perceptive. Secondly, in the information space, the Latin script is dominant, today 90% of the information in the world is published on the basis of this system, so its application expands the information boundaries.

Third, the transition to the Latin script will contribute to consolidation of the Turkic peoples and strengthen the Turkic language unity. At present, many independent states of Central Asia apply the Latin script, which means that the started language reform will strengthen the cultural, economic and political ties of our country with fraternal peoples. 

Fourthly, possibility to create script and spelling rules that will be adapted to sound features and the vowel harmony laws in the Kazakh language is being implemented, letters and sounds that have never been used in the Kazakh language before Cyrillic introduction will be excluded.

The importance of applying acutes in the new script should be emphasized. This innovation makes it possible to preserve the principle of “one sound-one symbol”. The use of digraphic symbols and apostrophes was inconvenient with relation to perception and practicality, it created unnecessary time spending on spelling and reading. Apostrophes were not applicable on the Internet. Therefore, the translation of specific sounds to diacritical symbols has become a timely and correct decision.

Thus, the ambitious language reform is a necessary and timely process for the development of our country.