On October 21, Uzbekistan celebrates Uzbek Language Day, also known as the Day of the State Language of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This day is dedicated to celebrating the beauty and importance of the Uzbek language and promoting the country's national spirit. Uzbekistan's national language is closely intertwined with the history of its native speakers.
The Uzbek people speak a language belonging to the southeastern, or Chagatai (Turki), branch of the Turkic language group.
The history of the Uzbek language can be divided into three stages: ancient Turkic, Old Uzbek, and modern Uzbek.
The ancient Turkic language was used from the 5th to the 11th centuries, while the Old Uzbek language developed between the 11th and 19th centuries. During this time, the language was heavily influenced by neighbouring languages and was unified and developed by the poet Alisher Navoiy.
The modern Uzbek language began to form in the 20th century, based on the Ferghana dialect. This dialect was widely spoken and was known as the Sartain language, with its speakers referred to as Sarts. Although the Sarts were not originally part of the Uzbek people, the word "Sart" was abandoned in the 1920s, and the country's people began to be referred to as Uzbeks. The norms of the literary language became more democratic, making it simpler and more accessible.
Throughout its history, the Uzbek language has used three different scripts.
The Arabic alphabet was used from ancient times until the end of the 1920s.
After the advent of Soviet power, the writing system underwent a series of reforms, with the Latin alphabet in use until 1938 and the Cyrillic alphabet from then until 1993.
When Uzbekistan became an independent state, the Latin alphabet was once again adopted.
In honour of National Language Day, the US Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, has released a video showcasing famous Uzbek expressions like "Baraka Top", "Toshingni Ter", "Chuchvarani xom sanabsiz", and others.
The diplomats took on the challenge of deciphering some of the most popular phrases with confidence and determination.
In late April, Daryo reported that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had inked the decree 'On additional measures to improve the executive structure of the Cabinet of Ministers' to strengthen the influence of state language in social and state life and to expand its use and role in the development of modern science.
The power of language and literature knows no bounds. It transcends borders, cultures, and time. In late 2022, Andrew Staniland, a talented London-based English poet, visited the Daryo virtual studio to discuss his translations of selected poems by two prominent Uzbek poetesses from the 19th century - Nodira and Uvaysiy. His previous translations of works by Alisher Navoiy and Abdulhamid Cho'lpon were equally impressive.
Andrew Staniland, aided by the likes of Nazeela Elmi and Aidakhon Bumatova, continues to bring the beauty of Uzbek literature to a broader international audience and bridge cultural gaps through their work.
Mark Edward Reese, an acclaimed American translator and researcher, translated Abdulla Qodiriy's novel “Oʻtkan Kunlar” ("Bygone Days") directly from Uzbek to English. The book was published in the United States under the same title. It was distributed to various government agencies, leading higher education institutions, and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in the US. It was also included in the Library of Congress catalogue, the country's largest library. Additionally, the book was made available as an e-book.
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