The new commemoration highlights the common linguistic and cultural heritage of the Turkic-speaking peoples and strengthens UNESCOour country’s broader commitment to multilingualism and cultural diversity.
A historic date
The choice of December 15 is rooted in a historic moment in linguistic scholarship. On this day in 1893, Danish linguist Vilhelm Thomsen announced that he had deciphered the alphabet of Orkhon inscriptions – some of the oldest known written records of the Turkic language family.
His breakthrough opened the door to a deeper understanding of a linguistic tradition that today connects dozens of communities across Eurasia.
A global linguistic family
Turkic languages ​​– including Azeri, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkish, Turkmen and Uzbek – are spoken natively by more than 200 million people across an area of ​​approximately 12 million square kilometers.
UNESCO notes that these languages ​​carry a rich written heritage, strong oral traditions and diverse cultural practices shared across many Member States.
The proclamation of the new Day follows a joint request from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan and was supported by 21 Member States, reflecting broad recognition of the value of linguistic diversity.
Strengthen cooperation
UNESCO says this annual celebration aligns with the UN’s broader multilingualism agendaset out in General Assembly resolution 71/328.
By dedicating a day to the Turkish language family, the agency aims to encourage linguistic cooperation, cultural exchanges and dialogue between civilizations.
Planned activities include awareness-raising initiatives, academic research and programs aimed at safeguarding Turkish languages ​​and oral traditions.
Annual celebration
The day will be marked by exhibitions, conferences, literary events and artistic performances intended to highlight the historical depth and contemporary vitality of Turkish languages.
UNESCO says the commemoration is an opportunity to honor linguistic diversity as part of humanity’s common heritage and to strengthen international efforts to protect languages ​​as essential vehicles of identity, knowledge and cultural expression.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
