Ankara hosts scholars, diplomats to honor Turkic linguistic heritage

Ankara hosted a series of panel discussions to mark World Turkic Languages Day, bringing together diplomats, linguists, and academics to celebrate and promote the linguistic heritage of Turkic peoples.

The event was organized by the Turkish Language Association (TDK) with support from Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, UNESCO, and the Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language, and History, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Professor Osman Mert, Head of the Turkish Language Association, underscored the central role of language in preserving the identity of Turkic nations and stressed the importance of close cooperation within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). He also announced plans to hold the First Turkological Congress in Baku in 2026—marking 100 years since the last forum—and highlighted that preparations are underway in close coordination with the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.

The program continued with in-depth panel discussions, fostering dialogue on the preservation and development of Turkic languages.

UNESCO officially designated December 15 as World Turkic Languages Day, emphasizing the global significance of the Turkic linguistic heritage.

The decision was adopted during the General Conference of UNESCO, held in Samarkand in November.

UNESCO described the move as an important step toward promoting and recognising linguistic diversity, which it says enriches humanity’s shared cultural heritage.

The choice of December 15 carries strong historical significance. On this date in 1893, Danish linguist Vilhelm Thomsen announced the successful decipherment of the Orkhon inscriptions, among the oldest known written records of Turkic languages.

UNESCO noted that the Turkic language family—including Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkish, Turkmen, and Uzbek—is spoken by more than 200 million people across a vast region covering approximately 12 million square kilometers.

The initiative to establish World Turkic Language Family Day was jointly proposed by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan, and received the support of 21 countries.

By Vafa Guliyeva