Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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December 14, 2025 Culture and education
On December 15, the international community will celebrate the World Day of Turkic Languages for the first time. The decision was made at the UNESCO General Conference held in Samarkand in November. The organization considers this an important step toward recognizing linguistic diversity, which enriches our common human heritage.
The choice of date is symbolic and deeply meaningful. On December 15, 1983, Danish linguist Wilhelm Thomsen announced the successful decipherment of the Orkhon inscriptions, one of the oldest known written sources. The inscriptions were created by ancient Turks in the Orkhon Valley, in what is now Mongolia, in the 8th century CE and discovered in 1889.
Thomsen's achievement provided invaluable insight into the linguistic tradition that today links dozens of communities across Eurasia.
A language family that is spread across different continents
UNESCO emphasizes that languages belonging to the Turkic language family, such as Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkish, Turkmen and Uzbek, among others, are native to more than 200 million people in an area of approximately 12 million square kilometers.
A rich documentary heritage in Turkic languages, as well as vibrant oral traditions, is shared by more than 10 states.
Promoting multilingualism and cultural dialogue
The initiative to celebrate World Day was put forward by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan. It was supported by 21 countries.
By declaring December 15 as World Day of Turkic Languages, UNESCO emphasizes the importance of linguistic cooperation, cultural rapprochement and dialogue among civilizations.
The initiative aims to strengthen international cooperation in linguistic research, education, and cultural exchange. UNESCO notes that this day will facilitate large-scale scientific research and promote global dialogue aimed at preserving Turkic languages.
Starting in 2025, World Turkic Language Day will feature a variety of cultural and academic events, including exhibitions dedicated to linguistic heritage, lectures and public discussions, and literary and poetry evenings.
World Day of Turkic Languages is an important step towards recognizing the linguistic diversity that enriches our common human heritage.
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