On 15 December, the international community marks the World Day of Turkic Languages for the first time

Today, the international community marks the World Day of Turkic Languages for the first time.

The decision was adopted at the UNESCO General Conference held in November in Samarkand.

UNESCO emphasizes that the establishment of this day represents an important step toward recognizing linguistic diversity, which enriches our shared human heritage.

The choice of the date is symbolic and deeply meaningful: on 15 December 1893, Danish linguist Vilhelm Ludvig Thomsen announced the successful decipherment of the Orkhon inscriptions, one of the oldest known written sources. His discovery provided invaluable insight into a linguistic tradition that today unites dozens of communities across Eurasia.

According to UNESCO, the languages of the Turkic language family - including Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkish, Turkmen, and Uzbek - are native to more than 200 million people across an area of approximately 12 million square kilometers. The rich documentary heritage in Turkic languages, along with vibrant oral traditions, spans more than ten countries.

The initiative to establish the World Day of Turkic Languages was put forward by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan and was supported by 21 countries. UNESCO notes that the Day is intended to promote linguistic cooperation, cultural rapprochement, and dialogue among civilizations.

Starting in 2025, a wide range of cultural and academic events will be held on the World Day of Turkic Languages, including exhibitions dedicated to linguistic heritage, lectures and public discussions, as well as literary and poetry evenings.

“The World Day of Turkic Languages is an important step toward recognizing linguistic diversity that enriches our shared human heritage,” notes the UN News portal.