This event is seen as a significant step towards recognizing the linguistic diversity that enriches the common heritage of humanity.
“The date has a profound meaning: on December 15, 1983, Danish linguist Wilhelm Thomsen announced his successful deciphering of the Orkhon inscriptions alphabet—one of the oldest written sources. These inscriptions were created by the Turks in the 8th century in the Orkhon Valley, in present-day Mongolia, and were discovered in 1889. Thomsen's work provided a unique understanding of the linguistic tradition that unites dozens of peoples of Eurasia,” reports the UN News Service.
UNESCO notes that Turkic languages, including Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkish, Turkmen, and Uzbek, are native to more than 200 million people living over an area of about 12 million square kilometers. More than 10 countries possess a rich documentary and oral heritage of Turkic languages.
The initiative to hold the World Day was proposed by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan and supported by 21 countries.
This initiative aims to strengthen international cooperation in linguistic research, education, and cultural exchange. UNESCO emphasizes that this day will contribute to major scientific research and the development of a global dialogue aimed at preserving Turkic languages.
Starting in 2025, various cultural and academic events are planned to be held as part of the World Day of Turkic Languages, including exhibitions, lectures, public discussions, as well as literary and poetry evenings.
