Article published In: Language Problems and Language Planning
Vol. 49:2 (2025) ► pp.129–152
Prospects of Kyrgyz language transition to the Latin script based on experience of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
Prospects of Kyrgyz language transition
Published online: 25 April 2025
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.25003.tok
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.25003.tok
Abstract
The study aims to address the potential challenges, advantages and disadvantages associated with the
implementation of the Cyrillic-to-Latin script transition strategy based on the experience of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The lack
of financial resources, increased resistance in society, and the prospect of a cultural gap between the older and younger
generations were obstacles to the transition. In terms of the political situation, factors such as the multinationalism of the
Kyrgyzstani population, the prospect of reviving national consciousness and the political will of the leadership were noted. In
terms of education, the switch to Latin was seen as a way to speed up the learning of English and to have a positive impact on the
development of information technology. From an economic point of view, the transition could lead to a boost in the development of
information technology and the printing industry.
Keywords: writing system, graphics, grapheme, national identity, Cyrillic alphabet
Аннотация
Изилдөө Казакстан менен Өзбекстандын тажрыйбасынын негизинде кириллицадан латын графикасына өтүү
стратегиясын ишке ашыруу менен байланышкан потенциалдуу көйгөйлөрдү, артыкчылыктарды жана кемчиликтерди чечүүгө багытталган.
Финансылык ресурстардын жетишсиздиги, коомдогу каршылыктын күчөшү, улуу муун менен жаш муундун ортосундагы маданий ажырымдын
болоору өткөөл мезгилге тоскоол болгон. Саясий кырдаал боюнча Кыргызстандын калкынын көп улуттуулугу, улуттук аң-сезимдин кайра
жаралуу келечеги жана жетекчиликтин саясий эрки сыяктуу факторлор белгиленди. Билим берүү жагынан латын тилине өтүү англис тилин
үйрөнүүнү тездетүү жана маалыматтык технологиялардын өнүгүшүнө оң таасирин тийгизет деп эсептелген. Экономикалык көз караштан
алганда, өтүү маалымат технологияларын жана полиграфия тармагын өнүктүрүүгө түрткү бериши мүмкүн.
Resumo
Tiu ĉi studo celas fronti la potencialajn defiojn, avantaĝojn kaj malavantaĝojn ligitajn al realigo de la
strategio por transiri de la cirila al la latina skribmaniero surbaze de la sperto de Kazaĥio kaj Uzbekio. Obstaklis la transiron
manko de financaj rimedoj, kreskanta socia rezisto, kaj antaŭvido de kultura fendo inter maljunaj kaj junaj generacioj. Se temas
pri la politika situacio, oni notis faktorojn kiel ekzemple la multnaciecon de la kirgizia enloĝantaro, la antaŭvidon de reviviĝo
de nacia konscio kaj la politikan volforton de la gvidantaro. Rilate edukadon, oni konsideris la transŝalton al latino kiel
manieron rapidigi la lernadon de la angla lingvo kaj pozitive efiki je evoluigo de informa teknologio. El ekonomika vidpunkto, la
transiro povus rezulti je antaŭenpuŝo en evoluigo de informa teknologio kaj la presa industrio.
Article outline
- Introduction
- Materials and methods
- Results
- Experience of switching the Kazakh language from Cyrillic to Latin
- Experience of transition of the Uzbek language from Cyrillic to Latin
- Analysis of the prospects of switching from Cyrillic to Latin for Kyrgyzstan
- Discussion
- Conclusions
- Conflict of interests
- Data availability statement
References
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