President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a conference on Kazakh alphabet transfer to Latinscript. Minister of Culture and Sports Aktoty Raimkulova presented the improved version of the alphabet complying with "one sound - one letter" principle enshrined in traditional folk writing, no digraphs are used. There are symbols representing all 28 sounds of the Kazakh language.
The President noted the need to further work at the draft alphabet together with scientists and submit it for consideration at the next meeting of the National Commission for the Kazakh alphabet transition to Latin script.
Upon completion of this work, the Government is to present a draft Decree on approval of the improved alphabet to the Presidential Administration.
“The development of a new script cannot be completed in one day or even in one year. Haste in this matter can damage our entire culture and historical identity. The problem is not the transition from Cyrillic to Latin alphabet, but in the fact that a large-scale reform of the Kazakh language is being carried out. We must also take into account the financial aspect. Work on the introduction of the Latin alphabet should be carried out gradually. We can say that this script is designed for the younger generation, and this process must be carried out systematically, gradually,” Tokayev said.
The ministries of culture and sports, of education and science, of information and social development were tasked with public outreach on introduction of the new alphabet with the involvement of scientists, experts and the intelligentsia.
Reported by the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda.
