Uzbekistan: Keeping the Karakalpak Language Alive

Numerous changes and a lack of strategic development imperil ancient dialect.

A statue of the historic figure of Berdakh – the celebrated poet who wrote in the Karakalpak language – was returned to its old home in central Tashkent last year. Having been removed in 1962 in favour of a Red Army memorial, it now takes pride of place in a freshly-renovated square, complete with a new fountain, pavements and benches.

But despite this symbolic gesture towards Karakalpak, the Turkic language long used by nomadic tribes of living in the Aral Sea region, some native speakers warn that their linguistic traditions are under threat.

The Republic of Karakalpakstan is an autonomous region of Uzbekistan that takes up the entire northwestern part of Uzbekistan. Its 1.8 million residents are divided more or less equally into ethnic Karakalpaks, Kazaks and Uzbeks. According to Karakalpakstan’s constitution, Karakalpak has equal status to the state language of Uzbek. However, in reality, Uzbek dominates both public and social life.

The situation is further complicated by the numerous changes Karakalpak has undergone in the last century. It was written in Arabic script until 1928, when the Latin alphabet was introduced. Then in 1940, the system changed to Cyrillic. After Uzbekistan's independence in 1991, the decision was made to revert back to the Latin alphabet. Most recently, in 2016, letters with acute accents replace those previously written with apostrophes.

Most media in the autonomous republic is produced in a multilingual format. State-run television channels Karakalpakstan and Yoshlar broadcast programmes in the Karakalpak, Kazakh, Uzbek and Russian languages, as do radio stations. Circulation of the two main bilingual newspapers in the region, Bilim and Karakalpakstan, have fallen sharply from 603,836 copies printed in 2014 to 156,250 in 2018.

But there are hardly any news sites in the Karakalpak language, having been superseded by online versions of newspapers in Uzbek, Kazak and Russian. Instead, social media communities and Telegram channels fill the gap for native Karakalpak speakers.

Some outspoken critics accuse the Uzbek state of trying to crush Karalpak identity. Aman Sagidullaev, the leader of the small separatist Alga Karakalpakstan movement who lives in Norway, has repeatedly accused Tashkent of systematic discrimination including the repression of the Karakalpak language.

Others note that there is plenty of cultural use of Karakalpak, with social media full of singers performing in their native language, especially Youtube. New artistic works continue to be produced; in April, the Berdakh Karakalpak State Academic Theatre premiered a performance based on Jamila, a novel by Chingiz Aitmatov in the Karakalpak language at the Russian Drama Theatre in Tashkent.

“Many people from abroad say we are undergoing ‘Uzbekisation,’” Karakalpakstan journalist Salidjon Abdurakhmanov said. “However, here in Karakalpakstan, we don’t feel it. The courts and municipal authorities, whose representatives are bound to work with citizens, are bilingual. A visitor may choose any language they are comfortable with: middle ranking officials usually speak both languages. The same refers to documentation.

“In everyday life, recently I’ve seen children’s books of fairy tales published in the Latin-script Karakalpak language. However, outdoor advertising is affected in terms of the language. Many advertising boards are available in Russian and Uzbek languages. The Karakalpak language falls behind in this regard.”

The situation is further complicated by the numerous changes Karakalpak has undergone in the last century. It was written in Arabic script until 1928, when the Latin alphabet was introduced. Then in 1940, the system changed to Cyrillic. After Uzbekistan's independence in 1991, the decision was made to revert back to the Latin alphabet. Most recently, in 2016, letters with acute accents replace those previously written with apostrophes.

In effect, this has caused confusion between people of different generations. According to the head of Karakalpak philology of the Berdakh Karakalpak State University, Mambetkarim Kudaibergenov, the literacy skills of prospective students have fallen since the most recent changes were made.

“It’s no secret that schools still use the textbooks published in 2009-2016. These books need to be replaced,” Kudaibergenov said.

Journalist and founder of the news website karinform.uz, Islam Matekov, said he felt more comfortable writing in Cyrillic.

“I had to write in Cyrillic as the Latin script was amended too often. The new letters that appeared in 2016… do not display on mobile phones.”

Some young people also prefer Cyrillic to Latin script. Another journalist, Muslima Mambetniyazova, complained that all literature and information were available in Cyrillic despite the introduction of the Latin alphabet back in 1994.

“They say we should write in Cyrillic because mainly old people work in editorial offices. I use Cyrillic when I type on PC, Latin when I handwrite, and sometimes I mix both scripts.

“This is sad because there are a lot of people like me,” she continued. “My generation has seen three versions of the Latin alphabet and if more amendments are to come, I guess we won’t be able to teach our children and would just say we don’t know anything.”

Attempts are being made to standardise the Uzbek language too, with reforms due to be completed in 2021 that will also affect Karakalpak. The Latin script will then be officially used for both languages, with refresher courses arranged for all organisations and institutions.

As of summer 2019, for instance, Uzbek and Karakalpak language university entrance examinations will only be held in Latin alphabet.

Academics say that the Karakalpak language will need more support. In May 2018, the Terminology Centre at the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan was created to support popular use and academic research into the language.

Its director Shamshetdin Abdinazimov, linguistics professor at the Berdakh Karakalpak State university, said that the moves by central government to standardise languages were helpful.

“After the state language law amendments act of Uzbekistan is adopted, the law of the Republic of Karakalpakstan on the state language will be considered, too,” he said.

Abdinazimov explained that the centre’s main purpose was to popularise, define and modernise the language, creating such resources as an online dictionary. However, he argued that it was vital for there to be wider social efforts to maintain their linguistic traditions.

“It’s impossible for the three employees of the Terminology Centre and the eight units of volunteers to [keep Karakalpak alive,]” Abdinazimov continued. “Every native speaker of the Karakalpak language must maintain the integrity of the language in the first place.”