A Conversation With Mahabat Sadyrbek About the Kyrgyz Language

In an interview with The Diplomat, Dr. Mahabat Sadyrbek, a political scientist, legal anthropologist, linguist, and interpreter, discusses the nuanced reality of multilingualism in Kyrgyzstan. She argues that language debates are often overly divisive and fail to recognize the value of multilingualism. Sadyrbek notes that while Kyrgyz has expanded its role in government and national identity since independence, Russian remains central to higher education, science, and professional success. She emphasizes that the goal should not be replacing one language with another, but ensuring Kyrgyz has the institutional foundations to thrive alongside Russian. Sadyrbek also authored the first Kyrgyz grammar reference books in German and English, created out of necessity to make the language accessible to international scholarship. She views Russia's promotion of its language as a normal soft power strategy, not unique to Moscow, and highlights the practical advantages Russian still offers in digital and professional spaces.