A Conversation With Mahabat Sadyrbek About the Kyrgyz Language
The Diplomat interviews Dr. Mahabat Sadyrbek, a political scientist and linguist, about the state of the Kyrgyz language in Kyrgyzstan. Sadyrbek argues that multilingualism is a resource, not a problem, and that Kyrgyz must develop strong institutional foundations while preserving the advantages of Russian as a lingua franca. She discusses natural code-switching between Kyrgyz and Russian in daily life, the historical association of Russian with educational and professional success, and Russia's soft power efforts to maintain the language's influence. Sadyrbek authored the first Kyrgyz grammar reference books in German and English, emphasizing that a language needs more than native speakers to flourish. The interview highlights the nuanced reality of Central Asian multilingualism beyond simplistic competition narratives.
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