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Regional language politics in Kazakhstan in terms of Turkestan region
 
PIIS086919080033776-0-1
DOI10.31696/S086919080033776-0
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Sandybai Boranbayev 
Occupation: Professor
Affiliation: M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University
Address: Kazakhstan, Shymkent
Serik Junusbayev
Occupation: Associate Professor
Affiliation: M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University
Address: Kazakhstan, Shymkent
Gaukhar Kopbarova
Affiliation: O. Zhanibekov South Kazakhstan Pedagogical University
Address: Kazakhstan, Shymkent
Igor Savin
Occupation: Senjor research fellow, Center for research of Central Asia, Caucasus and Ural-Volga Region Institute of Oriental studies Russian Academy of Scienses
Affiliation: Institute of Oriental studies Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Moscow, Russia
Journal nameVostok. Afro-Aziatskie obshchestva: istoriia i sovremennost
EditionIssue 1
Pages136-145
Abstract

The aim of this article is to identify the specifics of the language situation and language policy in the Turkestan region compared to other regions and to determine the impact of these specifics on the prospects for the development of language policy in Kazakhstan as a whole. This is achieved through the analysis of various data sources: ethnodemographic statistics and materials from local authorities responsible for implementing language policy, as well as the results of mass surveys and focus groups. The study reveals that, despite the dominance of the Kazakh language, the region has a multilingual system supported by educational and cultural institutions. This specificity supports the region’s readiness to achieve the goals of the Concept of Language Policy Development for Kazakhstan for 2023-2029, which primarily focuses on the development of the Kazakh language and the implementation of the Latin alphabet for Kazakh. At the same time, challenges are identified related to the Concept’s insufficient attention to the region’s multilingualism and the generally neutral-to-negative attitude of residents towards the use of the Latin alphabet. The study’s findings highlight the shortcomings of the proposed Concept and suggest ways to overcome them using the existing experience of multilingual educational and cultural institutions. The originality of this work lies in its ability to address applied language construction tasks while also revealing the weaknesses of theoretical arguments that suggest multilingualism in the post-independence period of post-Soviet countries hinders the development of ethnic identity and weakens intercultural communication.

KeywordsLanguage situation, specifics of a multilingual region, factors of language policy
AcknowledgmentThis research is funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP14872068).
Received01.02.2025
Publication date23.02.2025
Number of characters31979
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Table of contents

PERCEPTIONS OF THE PROSPECTS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CONCEPT OF LANGUAGE POLICY DEVELOPMENT FOR 2023–2029 AMONG RESIDENTS OF THE REGION BASED ON POPULATION SURVEYS
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1 Language politics is an important part of state building, it is no coincidence that throughout the entire period of independence of Kazakhstan, it was in the center of attention of the authorities and society, all its significant milestones were accompanied by stormy discussions. This situation is due to the complex processes of changing the status of Kazakh, Russian and other languages spoken by the inhabitants of the country over the past 30 years. According to the researchers, “Kazakh language is one of the foundations of the Kazakhstani statehood and state support for Kazakh language meets the strategic interests of Kazakhstan. At the same time, the preservation of the spheres of functioning of Russian language is ensured and supported by the desire of Kazakhstan for integration processes, the preservation of a single cultural and educational space” with neighboring countries [Suleimenova, 2005, p. 284]. Not without reason, the goal of “State Program for Development and Functioning of Languages in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2011– 2020” [State Program, 2011], adopted by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 29 June 2011, was a harmonious language politics that ensures the full functioning of the state language as the most important factor in strengthening national unity while preserving the languages of all ethnic groups living in the country.
2 In June 2023, following an open online discussion, the “Concept of Language Policy Development in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023–2029” was adopted, which outlines, among other objectives, the “Main Directions for the Transition to Latin Script” [Concept of Development, Chapter 2, Paragraph 2, 2023], indicating the government's advancing plans in this regard. On October 19, 2023, this Concept was approved [Kazakhstan Approves the Concept, 2023], and by 2029, the following key outcomes are expected as a result of its implementation: 1. The proportion of the Kazakh-speaking population in the republic – 84%; 2. The proportion of the population speaking three languages – 32%; 3. The proportion of the population enrolled in courses on the new alphabet and spelling rules – 15%; 4. The proportion of documentation by central state and local executive bodies conducted in the state language – 94%; 5. The proportion of the terminology fund based on the spelling rules of the Kazakh language's Latin alphabet (cumulative) – 40% [Concept of Development, Chapter 6, 2023].
3 It is evident that among the objectives of the program’s implementation, no languages other than Kazakh are mentioned (one can infer those one of the three languages referred to in the program is Russian, alongside Kazakh and English). Furthermore, of the five objectives, two specifically address the new Latin alphabet. Prior to this, for 30 years after independence, Kazakhstan pursued a flexible and soft language politics, which proclaimed a gradual expansion of the scope of application of the Kazakh language, but retained the possibility of comfortable use of Russian, Uzbek, Uyghur and Tajik languages. It is evident that the direction of language policy has now shifted.
4 The presence in the country of two large linguistic communities (in Kazakh and Russian) brings the situation in Kazakhstan, closer to the situation in many regions around the world where such communities emerged as a result of the disintegration of larger states, sometimes in a colonial context. This primarily pertains to the post-Soviet states that share historical and cultural conditions similar to those of Kazakhstan over the past 100 years. It also applies to countries like Canada and Singapore, which were formed at different times as a result of the dissolution of the British Empire.
5 Researches have more frequently focused on the linguistic situation in the post-Soviet Baltic states, where the influence of a significant Russian-speaking minority on the processes of establishing a new national identity has been examined. Some researchers viewed the existence of a large number of Russian speakers as a potential threat for conflicts or even the formation of a new post-Soviet ideology. This perspective was articulated by Inesse Ozolina in her article “Language Use and Intercultural Communication in Latvia” [Ozolina, 1999, p. 11–12] and by Cemile Asker, who compared the situation in Kazakhstan and Estonia. In both cases, the authors advocated for the existence of only one (state) language, which they considered to be the titular language [Asker, 2014, p. 76–77].
6 Other researchers argue that a multifaceted [Cheskin, Kachyevski, 2019, p. 15] language policy is more justified in Kazakhstan, as it allows for the preservation of the linguistic and ethnic identity of the titular population while also avoiding the alienation of minorities, particularly the significant Russian-speaking population in Kazakhstan [Reagan, 2019, p. 467]. Official bilingualism and multilingualism are also supported in Canada and Singapore, which have developed in a post-colonial context rather than a post-Soviet one. In Canada the language politics is aimed at supporting two official languages English and French [Action Plan, Pillar 3, 2023 ], in Singapore, along with 3 local languages, English, the language of the former metropolis, has been approved as the official language [Kuo, 1983, p. 2; Dixon, 2005, p. 625–626].

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