Tokayev Proposes Revisiting Contentious Terms in the Kazakh Language
Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has proposed establishing a working group to discuss contentious issues in the development of the Kazakh language. He questioned the necessity of certain artificially created words and called for moderation in updating the lexicon.
Speaking at the 10th Congress of the International Society 'Kazakh Tili,' Tokayev cited eight examples. Among them are 'küysandyq' for piano, 'qyltima' for balcony, 'subūrqaq' for fountain, 'sebezgi' for shower, 'qyryqqabat' for cabbage, 'ünqağaz' for newspaper, 'jedelsaty' for elevator, and 'jelköz' for transom window.
The President also drew attention to the replacement of traditional Kazakh religious terms with words of Arabic origin. In his view, the necessity of such changes requires study.
The working group is proposed to include linguists, scholars, experts, and public representatives. The Presidential Administration will coordinate its activities.
Tokayev also advocated for the creation of modern bilingual and multilingual dictionaries linking Kazakh with the main official languages of the UN. He separately mentioned a Kazakh-Persian dictionary.
