State language.kg: difficulties in translation

Recently the officials of the National Commission on the State Language under the President of Kyrgyzstan reported on start of the project, involving the promotion of the state language in Kyrgyzstan. It will be financed by international organization.

Background of the problem

Since independence of Kyrgyzstan, the lack of clear coordination work, and excessive populism contributed to the development of language - one of the fundamental components of statehood, in fact, were put on a slide. The lack of scientifically developed and proven methodologies, easy for learning, lack of textbooks and qualified teachers led to the fact that most of the Russian-speaking population and urban Kyrgyz have not learned the language, and much time and funds were lost.

The national commission on the state language was created back in 1998 by the president Askar Akayev, who issued a decree. A few years later the "Program on development of the state language of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2000-2010" was approved, and, of course, again a lot of money was allocated. What has been done within this program? Scientific conferences and round tables, workshops and seminars, training sessions and open discussions were held. All of these activities, as a rule, are widely reported in the media. And what is the result? "Stubborn", not knowing the state language Kyrgyz population still don't speak Kyrgyz.

Since that time, and for 23 years of independence the situation has not changed: the quality of teaching the state language still does not give the desired results.

"I don't understand you"

"My child was taught Kyrgyz since younger groups of kindergarten, then she continued education at school ... Now she is in the ninth grade, and there is the mar of "4" in her diary, but in all honesty, I say that she does not speak Kyrgyz, and don't understand a lot," a mum of a student of one of the schools says. Art the same time this family is of the titular nation.

The Deputy Chairman of the National Commission Almaz Kulmatov says that within the development of a new project on promotion of the Kyrgyz language, bad experience from previous years was taken into account. And by the end of September this year, the product will be presented to the public and experts. With a positive assessment the project will be launched in the regions, first of all.

The Candidate of Philological Sciences and literature expert Bakhtiar Koychuev agrees with some points of the upcoming event. "Sooner or later the state will use entirely state language, but we mustn't dramatize and force the events. It is necessary to create a uniform methodology, train the teachers themselves, develop textbooks and schedule the timelines for each stage, and not the project itself as a whole," he said.

However Bakhtiar Koychuev strongly disagrees with the idea of ​​"multilingual education", which is scheduled in 30 pilot schools and five preschool institutions. The bottom line is that the discipline in Russian-language schools to be taught in the Kyrgyz language.

"God willing, let them first learn the same physics or chemistry in Russian. And if teachers begin to teach in Kyrgyz, they won't understand things at all. Whether we like it or not, the Russian language - a window on the world. Right and opportunity of choice should remain too. If people see their future in the Russian language, let them attend school with teaching in Russian," adds the literary critic.

How not to make people laughing

In addition, the society is interested in how to deal with words and terms that are used in different spheres of life. For example, deoxyribonucleic acid, in common - DNA, chemical agents, caliper, drawing instruments, how children in kindergartens will call, for example, well-known Humpbacked Horse or roly-poly?

We must admit that for years of independence we have not been developed scientific and technical terminology.

UNICEF representative Alvard Poghosyan tried to allay fears by telling 24.kg news agency that currently the National Commission and experts are tasked with standardizing the language and scientific disciplines as well.

"All the same, some words are adapted, new ones are created, something is present in the culture of people. Language - a developing organism and the Kyrgyz language is not the exception. Just the process must be properly adjusted," she added.

We have to regulate and deal with dialects: the word "egg" people in the capital name "zhumurtka" and in the south prefer to say "tukum." Another example - "zhaamat." One teacher said that the word is enough "sublime" and it is incorrect to use it in everyday life, another teacher doesn't agree with the opinion of colleagues.

A couple of years ago there was a case which was vigorously discussed on the Internet: the famous writer helped neighbor girl with homework, translating into Kyrgyz the tale "The Little Round Bun." Writer got three for making wrong a couple of turns of speech. It was decided not to talk him about it, so as not to upset him and mark of "three" was enough for a schoolgirl, if only "unsatisfactory", but wish to study state language in this case is completely repulsed. Such examples abound.

The way out. Next one.

A very important point that our guardians of the language constantly overlook: we must consider the possibilities of not only pupils, students, but also adults, because the labor market on high-paying job requires people with mandatory knowledge of the Kyrgyz language. It is highly qualified middle-aged left and continue to leave Kyrgyzstan because of the fact that the Kyrgyz became and remains for them an insurmountable obstacle.

And we really want to hope that a new attempt to introduce the state language as necessary one will escape traditionally bad experience...