International Ala-Too University

Department of Social Science

Faculty of Simultaneous Interpretation
Done by students: Abdibaitova Zarina

Title: “Multilingualism in the context of Kyrgyzstan” (Fundamentals)

Abstract: The study provides an overview of the sociolinguistic situation in
Kyrgyzstan. This article states about multilingualism, its definition, concept and its
benefits to Kyrgyzstan as a multilingual country. And Kyrgyzstan has chosen three
languages: Kyrgyz, Russian, and English. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan is a
multinational multilingual state with a high degree of mixed marriages and ethnic
tolerance. To know the national language is prestigious and important, yet many
Kyrgyz and representatives of other ethnicities prefer to have their children
instructed mainly in Russian because Russian provides access to better education,
employment, information, and economic advancement.
Plan of the work:
1. Introduction
2. Multilingualism
3. Languages of Kyrgyzstan
4. English, Russian, Kyrgyz
5. Program of multilingual education.
6. Conclusion
7. References
Introduction:
Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian republic where the Kyrgyz make up about
65% of the population. The primary languages used in the region are Kyrgyz,
Russian, Uzbek, Tajik, Turkish, and German. Since proclaiming independence,
Kyrgyzstan has proceeded to build a new historical identity of Kyrgyzstani.
This idea is based upon the seven precepts of the epic national poem ‘Manas’
(www.welcome.kg/ru/manas): (1) unity and solidarity of the nation; (2)
interethnic agreement, friendship, and collaboration; (3) national honor and
patriotism; (4) tireless labor towards prosperity and well-being; (5) humanity,
magnanimity, and tolerance; (6) harmony with nature; (7) fortification and
defense of the Kyrgyz state system. Among the post-Soviet states Kyrgyzstan,
closely following Belarus (see Giger & Sloboda, this issue), does not consider
the Russian language to be a threat to its national security or historical identity.
Language planning is developing, but it seems that the Kyrgyz language is not
yet ready to be an omnipotent means of the national academic, administrative,
interethnic and intercultural communication. Russian is commonly studied by
members of the younger generation because they want to study at Kyrgyz
universities where the main scientific literature and textbooks are still in
Russian, conduct business with Russia, or work or live in Russia where the
standard of living is higher. The tensions between some ethnic groups also
promote the use of Russian as a lingua franca. At the same time, proficiency in
Russian as a second language is declining in the new generation.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the current situation

in Kyrgyzstan, affected by the previous experiences of multilingualism,
examples of the neighboring countries, and new nation-building expectations.
2.Multilingualism
Multilingualism has became very powerful fact of life all over the world, arising
different conditions to communicate among different nations.
But what is Multilingualism. First of all, we must define it. What it means.
Multilingualism means a process where more than one language is used among
individuals or societies. It refers to individuals, who speaks one language with his
family and another language with others with the neighbors, with his colleges at
work, it means that there are people who are able to speak two or more languages.
The same about societies and nation-states who use more than one language in
different circumstances with different degrees. So, Multilingualism is the co-
existence of more than one language in any given situation. So, it is the norm for
most people, and not the exception.
The major part of the world populations are bilingual, multilingual, the minor part
of the world’s populations are monolingual. Five to eight thousand different ethnic
groups live in 160 nation slates. According to some schools there are over 5000
distinct languages spoken in small nation states, from this it is show that few
nations are monolingual and mono-ethnic. And there are the world nations who
have groups of individuals, living on the boundary and use other languages,
besides this mother tongue to function in every day lives.
During the Soviet Period Russian became redundant an official language. The
majority of the population of the Soviet Union, including Kyrgyzstan, became
bilingual. They communicated in Russian and mother tongue as well. But not
everybody used both Russian and Kyrgyz for example. Inhabitants for from the
centre spoke Kyrgyz, in the centres they use Russians and forgot their native
language. So, it is difficult to co-exist two or more languages equally. One of them
will became to dominate. This is the problem to use for more languages at the
same time, at the given territory equally. It is not accessible to everybody in the
given territory.
Therefore, multilingualism can often be seen to societies and states rather than
individuals. When speaking about individuals abilities, the term plurilinguism
might be more appropriate. It depends on his proficiency of varying degrees, in
several languages and experience of several cultures, on. The levels of ability of
the same individual may be: a person may speak one language more easily than
another, but he remains plurilingual. Any languages can be granted a high status
level, if they are recognized by governments as official in the given country, but
not able to be communicated in each other’s language.
Ethnic composition of the population of Kyrgyzstan

% popu % popu % popu % popu % popu %

popul lation lation lation lation lation
ation accor accor accor accor accor
accor ding ding ding ding ding
ding to to to to to
to the the the the the the
1959 1989 1999 2009 2018 2020
cens cens
us us

Kyrgy 206 100,0 425 100,0 482 100,0 536 100,0 625 100,0 652 100,
zstan 500 0 % 775 0 % 293 0 % 279 0 % 673 0 % 352 00 %
9 5 8 3 0 9

Kyrgy 836 40,52  222 52,37  312 64,86  380 70,95  458 73,32  480 73,6
z 831 % 966 % 814 % 478 % 743 % 436 5 %
3 7 8 0 9

Uzbek 218 10,59  550 12,92  664 13,79  768 14,33  918 14,68  964 14,7
640 % 096 % 950 % 405 % 262 % 379 8 %

Russi 623 30,20  916 21,53  603 12,51  419 7,82  352 5,64  344 5,29 
ans 562 % 558 % 201 % 583 % 960 % 950 %

Dung 110 0,54  369 0,87  517 1,07  584 1,09  705 1,13  739 1,13 
an 88 % 28 % 66 % 09 % 34 % 77 %

Uighu 131 0,64  367 0,86  469 0,97  485 0,91  570 0,91  593 0,91 
rs 57 % 79 % 44 % 43 % 02 % 67 %

Tajiks 152 0,74  335 0,79  426 0,88  461 0,86  549 0,88  576 0,88 
21 % 18 % 36 % 05 % 76 % 12 %

Turks 542 0,03  212 0,50  355 0,74  391 0,73  434 0,69  447 0,69 
 % 94 % 24 % 33 % 11 % 73 %

Kazak 200 0,97  373 0,88  426 0,88  331 0,62  355 0,57  363 0,56 
hs 61 % 18 % 57 % 98 % 41 % 96 %

Tatars 562 2,72  700 1,65  455 0,94  314 0,59  272 0,43  267 0,41 
09 % 68 % 03 % 91 % 00 % 32 %

Azerb 104 0,50  157 0,37  140 0,29  172 0,32  204 0,33  211 0,32 
aijanis 28 % 75 % 14 % 67 % 06 % 53 %

Korea 362 0,18  183 0,43  197 0,41  172 0,32  170 0,27  171 0,26 
ns 2 % 55 % 84 % 99 % 74 % 24 %

Ukrain 137 6,64  108 2,54  504 1,05  219 0,41  112 0,18  994 0,15 
ians 031 % 027 % 42 % 24 % 52 % 3 %

Kurds 478 0,23  142 0,33  116 0,24  131 0,25  н. д. н. д. н. д. н. д.

3 % 62 % 20 % 66 %

Germ 399 1,93  101 2,38  214 0,45  948 0,18  826 0,13  817 0,13 
ans 15 % 309 % 71 % 7 % 9 % 9 %

Language situation
Native language according to the 1999 census[7]:
Kyrgyz language 65.2 % (3.145 million)
Russian language 14.7% (710 thousand)
Uzbek language 14.0 % (674 thousand)
Other 6.1% (294 thousand)

Language proficiency (except native)[7]:

Russian 75.0 %
Kyrgyz language 11.5 %
Uzbek language 8.2 %
Other 5.3 %
3.Languages of Kyrgyzstan
Surrounded by Kazakhstan in the north, Uzbekistan in the west, Tajikistan in the
southwest and the People’s Republic of China in the southeast, Kyrgyzstan is one
of the Central Asian countries. The Tian Shan Mountains, the Fergana Valley and
the Lake Issyk-Kul are geographic symbols of the land and important pieces of the
national identity.
Kyrgyz is a Turkic language understood by people who speak other Turkic
languages and is closely related to Kazakh, so that speakers of these languages can
understand each other without having studied each other’s languages; however,
Mongolian and Altaic elements are greater in Kyrgyz than in Kazakh (Abduldaev,
1998; Oruzbaeva, 1997; Sartbaev, 1986). Kyrgyz emerged as a distinct language of
a separate ethnic group in the fifteenth century, and has been studied since the late
nineteenth century. The first manual of Kyrgyz was published in 1922, and since
1924, grammars of Kyrgyz began appearing (Abdymambetova, 2001; Fedchina,
1967; Kirgizskaja SSR, 1982). The epic poem ‘Manas’ is a well-known source for
the study of the history of the Kyrgyz language and culture (it can be read in
Russian on the website www.welcome.kg/ru/manas).
As to alphabet, the Kyrgyz have used adapted versions of Arabic (sporadically
until 1923, later officially), Latin (1928-1940) and Cyrillic script (since 1940). All
in all, during the Soviet times, the unified literacy, both for the written and oral
forms of the language, was elaborated, codified, normalized and spread among the
population; Kyrgyz literature, art, and history were popularized. At present, some
voices suggest the transition to the Latin script-this reflects attempts to unify all
Turkic-speaking countries around Turkey. In the course of their history, the
Kyrgyz were influenced not only by different Turkic neighbors, but also by
Mongols, Kalmyks, Afghani, Pamirs, Uyghurs, Chinese, and Russians. In 1876,
the territory became a part of the Russian Empire; in 1919, a part of the Soviet
Union; and in 1936, a Soviet Republic (www.kyrgyz.ru). Despite these changes,
many Kyrgyz remained nomads and herders and traveled independently of the
borders. In the Russian Empire and in the first years after the October revolution,
both Kazakhs and
Kyrgyz were called Kyrgyz, with the present-day Kyrgyz subdenominated on
occasion as ‘Kara-Kyrgyz’ (kara meaning ‘black’) (see www.infoplease.com/
country/profiles/kyrgyzstan.html; see also Fedchina, 1967; Hirsch, 2005;
Smagulova, this issue). This joint past leads to many local jokes, for example:
Kazakhs who feel richer and more civilized and therefore dominant in the area, ask
the Kyrgyz to get together again in the joint state; the Kyrgyz respond that they are
ready, but only under the name they had together before mid-1920s.
4.English, Russian, Kyrgyz
There is no clear law of language of how these three languages will operate in the
country. Resent amendments to the law of language do not speak about the
punishment for not knowing the particular language. In order not to create
interethnic conflict the law requirement is valid as long as any documents: appeals
to authorities, legal agreements, and other documents can be written either in
Kyrgyz
or Russian. As a result, we still have many documents in Russian without being
translated into Kyrgyz or English. Foreign citizens of our country get many
difficulties dealing with documentations as they are mainly in Russian. Students
cannot use English apart from schools. There is no need to use English in every
day social basis. The road signs, instructions in the street, public transports and
public places are mostly in Russian or Kyrgyz. The training centers do not cover
the requirements. According to the program the government is establishing training
centers to study Kyrgyz. There are many learning centers being opened recently in
Kyrgyzstan. The problem is that they do not have good programs and text books
for teaching Kyrgyz and methods are used still from Soviet Union which is
grammar translational; many grammar exercises, translating the next but no
communication or interaction within the real life needs. One more disadvantage of
the multilingualism is that all three languages cannot be at the same level or cannot
be
used without impairing one another. Children in Kyrgyzstan are getting really good
opportunity of having foreign education without even leaving the country.
There should be some changes in language policy using all three languages on the
same level. If students will be focusing on studying English there is a danger of
losing Kyrgyz. Asia Post-Soviet country we all understand the roots of
Russification among our students. So, we should mainly focus on improvement
Kyrgyz language with English.

The English Language is one of the most commonly spoken languages and is often
considered the most influential language in the world. Whether you want to learn
English to further your students, your career, or your personal horizons, there are
many benefits you can gain from attending a qualified English school. Learning a
second language is one of the very best ways to keep your brain active and
challenged. Studies have shown that the brain undergoes changes in electrical
activity and even structure and size while learning another language that do not
occur
when learning any other type of task or skill. Learning another language offers
important cognitive.
5. Program of multilingual education.
Kyrgyz Government adapted the program of multilingual education. And this
program has being carried by the government. There is special commission who
makes effort to realize this program. Special trainers are working with holding
seminars. They teach school teachers and teachers of Universities. The goal of this
program is that Kyrgyz government has close trilingualism. It means that to speak
3 languages, your native one plus two foreign languages as second languages,
Russian and English. The trainers are teaching in 2 stages. They teach school
teachers and higher education teachers. They teach linguists (Russian, Kyrgyz,
English teachers) and the subject teachers (mathematics, biology, chemistry etc.
teachers) separately. Step by step they are teaching linguists how to teach Russian
or English as a second foreign language. They are trying to give very effective
methods of teaching second foreign language quite different present day teaching
methods and the subject teachers are being taught step by step, not everything at
once. At the second stage of
the program they have chosen pilot groups, specially from primary classes. But it
is difficult to realize in a short time. The Kyrgyz government must take care of the
development of the program of multilingualism.
Teachers need subject books, audio-visual aids, methodological manuals of new
technologies for the realization of this program.
The tasks of state program on the development and use of languages in the Kyrgyz
Republic for 2018-2030 are the following:
1. Improvement and standardization of the teaching methodology of the state
language;
2. Development of infrastructure for teaching the state languages;
3. Stimulation of the process of learning the state languages;
4. Strengthening the status for the state languages;
5. Increasing the demand for the state languages;
6. Improvement and systematization of lexical resources of the Kyrgyz language
7. Enhancement of the language culture;
8. Functioning of the Russian language in the communicative language space;
9. Preservation of the linguistic diversity;
10. Learning English and other foreign languages;
The government is trying to find a balance between the two processes necessary
for the country: the development of the state language and the preservation of
multilingualism.
Multilingualism is the best way of learning languages. As they say: “Who knows a
language he is twice man”. There is a question: “Why don’t pupils learn Russian or
English as a second language perfectly?” They study Russian and English for 11
years, but it shows that hour sare not enough given in the school study plan, and
the methods of learning second language must be changed. All University teachers
and school teachers must be, by the trainers who have special qualification in
teaching second foreign languages.
6. Conclusion
Our government must pay attention to multilingualism and must support and to
make
conditions to realize it in the country. Multilingualism has much benefits to the
strengthen of the relations of different nations and to get more understanding each
other’s culture, and we are sure that if the program of Multilingualism is realized,
of course a new generation will have wide opportunities to get universal education
and became competent, multilingual specialist.
7.References
1. Abduldaev, E. (1998)[Kyrgyz Language: Phonetics, Orthoepics, Orthography,
Lexicology, and Phraseology]. Bishkek:Kyrgyzstan.
2.Abdymambetova, E.(2001) [The Kyrgyz Language]. Bishkek: Kyrgyz-Russian
Slavic University.
3. Bialystok, E. (2007). Acquisition of literacy in bilingual children: A framework
for research. Language Learning, 57, 45-77.
4. Krasnov, F. (ed.) (2000) [Russian Language in Kyrgyzstan].
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrgyzstan
6. https://www.unicef.org/kyrgyzstan/stories/becoming-multilingual-childs-play
7. https://connectusfund.org/6-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-multilingualism