Uzbekistan media to switch to updated alphabet

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s mass media and official document management are planned to switch to a single updated version of the Uzbek alphabet after the law on its revision takes effect, Nоdirjon Kholbutaev, head of the Department for the Development of the State Language under the Cabinet of Ministers, said at a Senate meeting on 10 September.

Senator Khusan Ermatov raised the issue of the timeline for the transition. He noted that Cyrillic and the current version of the Latin alphabet are still used in the country, including by mass media.

“Whether we like it or not, newspapers are still published in Cyrillic, and we have not yet managed to fully switch to Latin,” Ermatov said. According to him, insufficient determination has been one of the reasons why the transition to the Latin script has not yet been completed.

The senator also warned that the absence of clear deadlines after the adoption of the new version of the alphabet could lead to three writing systems being used simultaneously.

“But if there is not enough determination here either, then, in my view, in reality we may well have three alphabets being used simultaneously,” he said.

Ermatov called for specific transition deadlines to be established in advance, including for the media. He noted that issues involving passports, documents, address signs and other similar items are clear, but that mass media should also be prepared for the transition in advance.

Responding to the senator’s question, Kholbutaev said the country had long been in a situation where two writing systems were in use. According to him, there is now an opportunity to complete the process.

“And today, thanks to the initiative and will of our respected president, we are on the threshold of putting an end to the situation with two alphabets,” the department head said.

After the law takes effect, the transition to a single alphabet is planned to be placed under strict control. In particular, a requirement is expected to be introduced for media outlets to operate using a single, standardized and improved alphabet.

“In particular, it is planned to establish a requirement that after the law enters into force, all mass media outlets operate using a single, standardized, approved and improved alphabet,” Kholbutaev said.

The same principle is planned to apply to government bodies and official document management. According to the department head, the transition will be carried out gradually.

At the same time, no restrictions are planned on the use of the familiar writing system in citizens’ personal correspondence. In official document management and official media, by contrast, the objective is to fully switch to the new alphabet.

No specific deadlines for the transition of mass media were announced at the meeting. Kholbutaev said the relevant measures should be included in a Cabinet of Ministers program currently being developed. The document will also provide for the creation of necessary technical conditions, training and professional development for specialists, as well as the preparation of teaching materials.

Earlier, the Senate approved amendments to the Uzbek Latin-based alphabet. Under the new version, it will include 28 letters and one apostrophe instead of the current 26 letters and three letter combinations. Sh, Ch, Oʻ and Gʻ are to be replaced by Ş, Ç, Ö and Ğ. The Ng letter combination will be excluded from the alphabet as a separate unit.

For the law to enter into force, the document must be signed by the president.