Page 20 - PIAC
P. 20
evaluating the Role of Native Language as Part of
Nation Building Process in Kazakhstan
Orhan Söylemez
Ardahan University, Turkey
A theorist on nationalism has stated that “language is by no means the only
binding force in modern societies.” However, even if it is not the only binding
force, at least, language often plays an essential role in Kazak national or ethnic
identity. Moreover, in an article published in 1996 a researcher emphasized the
fact that “language is an integral part of society, its values, traditions, view of
life; in short, its culture as a whole.”
Even before the 1917 Revolution, Kazak intellectuals remained preoccupied
with creating and preserving the language legacy through which they could
stay close to their roots. The efforts of intellectuals to promote the use of
the Kazak language could only mean that language is a means to assert their
national identity. In the late 1950s, Kazak intellectuals wanted to protect the
Kazak language, and so demanded that all persons holding executive posts in
the Communist Party and state administration know Kazak. A French scholar
discussed the opposition of Kazak intellectuals to linguistic Russification, and
opposition to this resistance by another Kazak intellectual. She calls the latter
and the like “Russified Kazaks.”
As a last statement one should mention that there is a saying widely spread
among the Kazaks, especially intellectuals, that they ironically mock with the
situation of the Kazak language issue by saying “we talk and discuss about the
condition of our own language using Russian!..” This makes them laugh as well
as consider the issue deeply.
Nation Building Process in Kazakhstan
Orhan Söylemez
Ardahan University, Turkey
A theorist on nationalism has stated that “language is by no means the only
binding force in modern societies.” However, even if it is not the only binding
force, at least, language often plays an essential role in Kazak national or ethnic
identity. Moreover, in an article published in 1996 a researcher emphasized the
fact that “language is an integral part of society, its values, traditions, view of
life; in short, its culture as a whole.”
Even before the 1917 Revolution, Kazak intellectuals remained preoccupied
with creating and preserving the language legacy through which they could
stay close to their roots. The efforts of intellectuals to promote the use of
the Kazak language could only mean that language is a means to assert their
national identity. In the late 1950s, Kazak intellectuals wanted to protect the
Kazak language, and so demanded that all persons holding executive posts in
the Communist Party and state administration know Kazak. A French scholar
discussed the opposition of Kazak intellectuals to linguistic Russification, and
opposition to this resistance by another Kazak intellectual. She calls the latter
and the like “Russified Kazaks.”
As a last statement one should mention that there is a saying widely spread
among the Kazaks, especially intellectuals, that they ironically mock with the
situation of the Kazak language issue by saying “we talk and discuss about the
condition of our own language using Russian!..” This makes them laugh as well
as consider the issue deeply.
