Turkic Studies Journal

Kazakhstan Studies: global research discourse and local narratives

Nazira Abdinassir, Svetlana Kovalskaya — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article explores the contributions of foreign scholars to the study of Kazakhstan, emphasizing their role in deepening understanding of its historical and contemporary context within a global framework. It
examines Kazakhstan’s historiography from the perspective of Western academic discourse. By employing diverse theoretical and methodological
approaches, these scholars enhance research on Kazakhstan’s historical and sociocultural dynamics, focusing on its ethnic diversity, cultural heritage, and geopolitical significance.
Using qualitative research methods, including in-depth interviews with international historians specializing in Kazakhstan, this study aims to identify key themes of their research and explore future directions. Between May 2024 and February 2025 six interviews were conducted, one of which involved written responses to a questionnaire. The interviewees were distinguished scholars from the United States, Canada, Italy, and Japan, all recognized experts in the region’s history.
Free from the ideological influences of Soviet historiography, they possess advanced knowledge of Central Asian languages, have conducted extensive research in Kazakhstan’s archives and libraries, and maintain professional connections with Kazakhstani scholars.
The interviews, conducted in English, followed a structured questionnaire. The majority of these interviews were conducted at prominent international conferences organized by the Central Eurasian Studies Society (CESS) and the European Society for Central Asian Studies (ESCAS). However, conducting these interviews posed challenges. The intensive conference schedules made arranging in-person meetings with scholars and effectively coordinating discussions difficult. Additionally, some interviewees were slow to respond to email inquiries, limiting the completeness of the dataset.
This study demonstrates how the research conducted by these scholars not only advances academic study of Kazakhstan but also integrates local narratives into global scholarly discussions. Their contributions help train a new generation of researchers in Kazakhstani
history and culture. Organizations such as CESS and ESCAS play a crucial role in fostering academic exchange and promoting scholarship in Kazakhstan. The insights from these interviews reflect a growing international interest in Kazakhstan’s history and culture, underscoring the valuable contributions of foreign scholars in enriching academic discourse and global perspectives on the region.

Discursive and methodological aspects of the study of the Kazakh Khanate in Turkish historiography

Aiman Azmukhanova, Mirzahan Egamberdiyev — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines the discursive and methodological aspects of studying the Kazakh Khanate in Turkish historiography. In recent decades, Turkish scholars have shown increasing interest in Central Asian history. This is
due to several factors: first, political and cultural ties between Kazakhstan and Turkey have fostered academic exchanges; second, within Turkology and Eurasian studies in Turkey, there has been a growing focus on
Kazakh history as part of the broader history of Turkic peoples; third, there-evaluation of Ottoman and post-Ottoman historiographical traditions has influenced approaches to regional history, including the Kazakh
Khanate. However, despite the significant number of studies, Turkish historiography still faces debates on methodology, source interpretation, and historiographical concepts. The study aims to analyze the discourses and methodological approaches of Turkish historians regarding the Kazakh Khanate and the patterns of its statehood formation. The key objectives include identifying trends in Turkish historiography, assessing the influence of methodological traditions, analyzing source materials, and examining the impact of ideological, political, and academic factors.
The research’s novelty lies in its comprehensive analysis of historiographical materials and methodological foundations of Kazakh Khanate studies in Turkey. Compared to previous works, this article provides a systematic examination of conceptual and methodological tools, highlighting key trends and developments in historiography. The comparative-historical method in future research allows us to contrast Turkish historiographical perspectives with those from Kazakhstan, Russia, and Western academia.
Discourse analysis helps identify narrative features, rhetoric, and key concepts employed by Turkish historians. Content analysis of texts reveals dominant themes, prevailing interpretations, and shifts in scholarly
perspectives. A critical-analytical method is also applied to explore methodological challenges and historiographical disputes. The findings provide insights into the current state of Kazakh Khanate studies in Turkish historiography, highlighting key methodological issues. The identified patterns contribute to understanding the influence of political and ideological factors on historiographical discourse, as well as the extent to which Turkish scholars incorporate various theoretical-methodological approaches. The conclusions may be valuable for further research in Turkology and the study of historiographical interactions between Kazakhstan and Turkey.

Ceramic complex of the Bulandy-2 Temple: morphology, technical and technological analysis

Zhanbolat Utubayev, Makpal Suyundikova, Zhanargul Kaliyeva — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper presents the results of an analysis of ceramics from Bulandy-2, one of Central Asia’s earliest domed structures. The site was first excavated by the Khorezm Archaeological Expedition between 1957 and 1960. The Bulandy-2 Temple has a circular shape with a diameter of 16 m and a height of 4.5 m. The entrance is located on the northern side of the structure. The presence of a wooden stretcher and a coffin during the excavations
suggests that the temple was used for burial purposes. It also points out that the site may have been employed for rituals associated with funerary practices. Researchers comparing the Bulandy-2 Temple with Central Asian cultic monuments in Bactria, Margiana, and Khorezm associate its architectural features, particularly its circular base, the cult of fire and abundance, that is characteristic of the Zoroastrian nomadic traditions of Central Asia. Moreover, similar dome-shaped structures have been found across the Eurasian steppe.
The present study draws upon a range of ceramic collections from the Bulandy-2 complex, which are currently housed in the collection of the State Museum of Oriental Art in Moscow. The primary objective of this paper is to introduce the morphological, technical and
technological characteristics of Bulandy-2 ceramics into scholarly discourse. Morphological analysis of the pottery indicates the presence of domestic and, to some extent, kitchenware. Further technical and technological analysis of the material reveals that the vessels were wheel-thrown using a mixture of dry clay, chamotte, organic matter and gypsum. The primary artificial organic additives in the moulding mass of this ceramic were dry grass and crushed straw. Large Bulandy-2 vessels were constructed using the coil-building technique. The vessels feature a rich red and brown engobe, along with and various geometric designs on their bases and rims. Researchers suggest that the markings on the ceramics may represent the potter’s personal signature, clients’ requests, indications of private ownership, reflections
of social inequality. The conducted research on the site, as well as the morphological and technological- technical analysis of the ceramics, made it possible to date the Bulandy-2 Temple to the 4th-2nd centuries.

The ancient Uyghur monument Altun Yaruk: discovery, study, and translations

Duken Masimkhanuly, Taldaubek Kadyl, Ertai Zhomart — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines the history of the discovery and research of the ancient Uyghur wtitten monument Altun Yaruk, dating back to the 10th century CE. Discovered in
the late 19th century, it has been studied by Russian, German, British, Chinese, and later French, Turkish, Japanese, Swedish, and Kazakh scholars. Special expeditions were organized to East Turkestan for its study. there are significant gaps in the research on its language, content, transcription, and translations of Altun Yaruk, which require further scholarly investigation. The manuscript was written in ancient Uyghur script and translated into Chinese, Sanskrit, and other ancient languages during the early Middle Ages. Consequently, scholars from the 19th to the 21st centuries primarily work with translated texts, with preserved copies in Saint Petersburg and Berlin, often referred to as the ‘Saint Petersburg’ and ‘Berlin’ versions.
This article aims to systematize and summarize the history on Altun Yaruk by Eastern and Western scholars while highlighting translation specifics. To achieve this objective, the authors have analysed sources written in Chinese, Russian, German, English, Turkish and other languages. They have also compiled factual data from international studies of Altun Yaruk and conducted a
comparative analysis of the texts.
The contributions of early researchers, particularly Russian and European scholars such as S.Malov, W.Radloff, F.Müller, and A.Stein, are given special attention. Malov’s contributions extend beyond mere transcription and translation, he also identified phonetic distinctions in the consonant system of the monument. Müller published the results of his expeditions, including
a transcription and German translation, as early as 1908, thus preceding Malov’s work.
Additionally, the Japanese and Turkish scholars research, including R.Arat, W.Eberhard, S.Çağatay among others, has made significant contributions to the study of the written record.
The article also highlights the achievements of the Chinese Turkologist Geng Shimin, under whose leadership a school of young scholars specializing in Turkic written monuments, including Altun Yaruk, Maitrisimit, and Tang Xuanzang’s Journey to the West was established.
Today, Altun Yaruk has been translated into numerous European, Eastern, and Turkic languages, including Kazakh (by G.Aidarov and others). The authors of this article propose a new translation from Chinese into Kazakh.

The Karakhanid poet and thinker Yūsuf Balasaghūnī and his era

Tynchtykbek Chorotegin (Tchoroev), Zamira Sadyrova — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Various academic institutions in the in the post-Soviet republics of the region as well as other international research centers, actively study the cultural history and intellectual traditions of the medieval Turkestani peoples. A significant advantage is the absence of the ideological censorship imposed by former Soviet communism. Considerable attention is also given to the cultural history of the Karakhanid Khaganate and the study of eminent figures such as Yūsuf Balasaghūnī and Mahmud Kashgari Barskani. Notably, the 1010th anniversary of Yūsuf Balasaghūnī’s birth will be celebrated in 2025.
This article provides a summary of key information regarding the life and work of Yūsuf Balasaghūnī, the author of a unique philosophical-didactic poem written in the Karakhanid- Turkic language in 1069-1070. In addition to the ancient script found at the Issyk Kurgan, which remains undeciphered, the Turkic peoples developed their own alphabet, Bitig. One of the rock inscriptions in the Sogdian alphabet from the 11th century has been preserved in the Talas Valley (at Qulan-Sai) in Jeti-Suu.The Sogdian alphabet was known to the Turks during the early Khaganate and Karakhanid periods.
The so-called ‘Uighur alphabet’ evolved from Sogdian, which Uighurs and Mahmud Kashgari referred to as the general ‘Turkic’ alphabet. Christian Turks also adopted the Syriac alphabet, modifying it for their native language. Many Turkic scholars were multilingual, they were fluent in more than three languages. In the Tarim Basin, which was partially conquered by the Karakhanids, the local Turkic population was familiar with ancient Tocharian and Sanskrit scripts.
The authors argue that Turks were literate before Islam. It is natural that Yusuf Balasaghuni became a follower of the Shu’ubiyya cultural movement. It is also crucial to understand how this poem, which was written during the Golden Age of Islamic culture and scholarship in Europe and North Africa, was conceptualized. Yusuf Balasaghuni urged his contemporaries to pursue knowledge for the state’s prosperity. He condemned corruption and arrogance. His work also advocates studying the theories of Euclid, the ancient Greek mathematician.
His intellectual legacy remains a landmark in the development of culture and science among the Turkic peoples of Karakhanid Khaganate and neighbouring regions.

The significance of Chingiz Aitmatov's works in the development of Sakha (Yakut) culture

Valentina Semenova — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The article examines the collection of works by Chingiz Aitmatov translated into the Sakha (Yakut) language (1966) and the stage adaptations of his novellas Mother’s
Field and Spotted Dog Running Along the Edge of the Sea, performed at the Oyunsky Sakha Drama Theatre by directors Fedot Potapov and Andrei Borisov (1965, 1982). The study aims to determine the significance of Chingiz Aitmatov’s work in the development of Sakha culture. The research methodology adopts a comprehensive approach, integrating various scholarly methods, including historical-typological, cultural-historical, concrete-analytical, and comparative methods.
Aitmatov’s works are distinguished by their profound ethnic-national essence while simultaneously possessing universal significance. By addressing the pressing issues of Kyrgyz life, he engaged global, universal values, making his works an enduring source of inspiration
for creative individuals worldwide, regardless of nationality, ideology, or religion. The author argues that Aitmatov’s engagement with folklore and mythological plots and motifs, his affirmation of ethnic-national identity, and his reflection on timeless human values and ‘eternal’ problems render his work enduring, securing his rightful place in world literature.
The analysis reveals that Aitmatov’s literary contributions played a crucial role in strengthening Kyrgyz-Sakha interethnic relations. His works and personality profoundly influenced writers in Siberia and Yakutia and elevating literary translation in Yakutia. The Kyrgyz writer’s name is closely tied to Sakha theater. The Aitmatov phenomenon, as a unique cultural force, is evident in the fact that his staged works in the national theater became landmark productions and major creative achievements for Sakha directors Fedot Potapov
and Andrey Borisov, serving as milestones and starting points in the development of theatrical arts in the republic.
Another unique aspect of Aitmatov’s legacy is that his works provided the Sakha people to convey their traditions and national culture into the cultural space of Russia and the world. His literary creations were not only major events in the realm of artistic literature but also served as a bridge uniting people from different cultural backgrounds through art.
His example demonstrates how literature can transcend cultural and linguistic barriers, addressing to human emotions and experiences that resonate universally.

Aktas: research and materials

Maral Khabdulina — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The monograph presents materials from two archaeological sites in Eastern Zhetysu, investigated by K.A. Akishev in the 1960s: the ancient Wusun settlement Aktas-2 and the Xiongnu burial ground Aktas I. These sites from the first half of the 1st-millennium AD are located along the Kegen River in the Kurailly Gorge of the
Ketmen Mountains. Previously unpublished, these materials remained in the scholar’s archive as field photographs and drawings, documented by mid-20th-century standards. Publishing the monograph required extensive modernization and preparation of the materials for contemporary research.
Structured into an introduction, three chapters, and a conclusion, the monograph explores key theoretical issues in Wusun and Xiongnu archaeology. The introduction provides a historical overview of research in Eastern Zhetysu, highlighting the diversity of its archaeological sites and the region's significant settlement during both the ancient and medieval periods.
The first chapter examines the Ketmen geosystem’s environment, crucial for understanding ancient economies. The monograph's significance lies in detailed interpretation of excavation records through K.A. Akishev's theoretical contributions to nomadic studies.
The second chapter provides archaeological evidence of settlement and agriculture among the ancient Wusun, including remains of vegetable gardens and irrigation systems.
These findings, originally documented in the 1960s, are enriched by modern excavations of settlements and kystau nomadic sites in Kazakhstan and neighboring regions.
The third chapter analyzes materials from the Aktas I burial ground, associated with the common population of the late Wusun and Xiongnu periods. The significance of this analysis lies in its contribution to the study of Xiongnu cultural characteristics. The examination of the Aktas I burial ground has facilitated the identification of a complex of ethnically formative features within the Xiongnu funeral rites.
The conclusion addresses theoretical issues from studying the Aktasty monument complex.
A key result of researching the Aktas-2 settlement is revising the concept of continuous
nomadism and the assumption that nomads avoided agriculture. The study establishes the coexistence of agriculture and cattle breeding as a fundamental methodological principle in analyzing archaeological and historical sources. Additionally, the monograph provides
valuable insights into Xiongnu archaeology and the ethnic dynamics of the Great Migration period.

Ways of expressing locativity in Kazakh and Kyrgyz languages

Laszlo Karoly, Aisulu Iskakova — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The article analyzes the functional-semantic field (FSF) of locativity in the Kazakh and Kyrgyz languages. Functional linguistics in Kazakh is a relatively new field of study, with research on functional grammar emerging only in the late 20th century. In the Kyrgyz language, however, there is a paucity of scholarly work on this topic. Previous studies on linguistic units conveying spatial meaning have been conducted in isolation, and this issue has not been systematically addressed in Turkology.

The article is divided into theoretical and practical sections. The theoretical part outlines the key concepts of functional analysis, including the distinction between systemic-structural and functional linguistics, the concept of extra-linguistic categories as the foundation of functional methodology, and the definition and structure of the FSF, consisting of a core and a periphery. In the practical section, based on collected data the FSF of locativity in Kazakh and Kyrgyz is determined. The study reveals that the conceptual basis of the FSF of locativity in both languages is grounded in spatial meanings. The core of the locativity field is polycentric, with spatial meaning expressed through both morphological and lexical units. Morphological elements in the core include the noun case markers (dative, locative, ablative), auxiliary parts of speech, adverbs, interrogative and demonstrative pronouns, and verbs. Lexical indicators include geographical terms, toponyms, different types of objects and units of measurement related to space. In the periphery, the spatial meaning becomes less distinct, manifesting through phraseological units in Kazakh and Kyrgyz, as well as syntactic structures such as phrases and sentences.
The FSF of locativity in both languages shares a common conceptual foundation, exhibiting similar structures and linguistic units for expressing locativity. However, the fields differ in terms of their inherent semes. The differences are particularly noticeable in traditional units
of measurement and fixed expressions, thereby facilitating a more profound comprehension of their structural intricacies and distinctive characteristics.These differences reflect the diversity of spatial perception and locativity across different cultures.
The study establishes new possibilities for the comparative analysis of the functional and semantic systems of Turkic languages, thereby enhancing our comprehension of their structure and distinctive characteristics.

The linguistic representation of Abish Kekilbayev’s literary world in the National Corpus of the Kazakh language

Zhamal Mankeyeva, Aktoty Kozhakhmetova — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the era of globalization, the complexity of language requires analysis through new information technologies. The anthropocentric perspective in Kazakh linguistics considers not only linguistic constants but also the egocentric traits of language users.
However, the structuring of linguistic consciousness and the identification of a linguistic personality’s spiritual and value-based significance remain underexplored. Beyond communication, language’s cumulative and ethno-cognitive roles are crucial within the anthropocentric paradigm. The interrelationships of ‘language ~ culture’, ‘language ~ society’, and emerging ‘language ~ computer’ connections reflect modern linguistic trends, supported by empirical research.
This aligns with the field of textual linguistics, which has evolved since the 1960s, and discourse studies. The field of applied linguistics in Kazakh studies has advanced, notably with the frequency dictionary based on M. Auezov’s 20-volume collected works (1995), paving the way for corpus linguistics through computational methods.
Optimizing fundamental research via a corpus-based approach is essential for uncovering internal linguistic patterns. The Department of General Linguistics and European Languages at the Faculty of Philology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, developed the Almaty
Corpus of the Kazakh Language Corpus, which can be regarded as the starting point of this research in Kazakhstani linguistics.
In 2012, the A. Baitursynuly Institute of Linguistics launched The National Corpus of the Kazakh Language, an annotated electronic resource covering all functional styles and comprising twelve subcorpora. This paper examines Abish Kekilbayev’s linguistic identity using the writers’ subcorpus of the National Corpus of the Kazakh Language. His works Аңыздың ақыры (The End of the Legend), Бәсеке (Rivalry), and Шыңырау (The Abyss) provide a basis for corpus-based textual analysis.
The study examines his authorial phraseological expressions, unique collocations, colour and shade designations, use of ethnolexis and linguocultural elements, as well as linguistic pragmatic expressive means. As an outstanding master of literary expression, A. Kekilbayev possessed a unique ability to unveil the implicit meanings of language, deeply comprehended
the origins of Kazakh verbal artistry, and made a significant contribution to its further development.

Anthroponyms in the endangered Hoton language

Gombosuren Nyamdavaa, Nurziya Abdikarim — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

One of the pressing issues in contemporary anthropology is the loss of ethnic identity and the extinction of minority languages. This article examines anthroponyms in the endangered Hoton language, historically a Uyghur dialect within the Karluk branch of Turkic languages. The ethnic foundation of Karluk languages traces back to Karluk-Uyghur Turkic tribes, which consolidated within the Western Turkic Khaganate and later in the Uyghur and Karakhanid states. Turkic tribes later migrated eastward, adopting a sedentary or nomadic lifestyle and shaping state formations in Eastern Turkestan. Today, Hoton speakers reside in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China and western Mongolia (Bayangol Prefecture), experiencing linguistic and cultural assimilation, leading to the gradual erosion of their language.
The study focuses on the Hoton people living in Mongolia. The origins of the ethnonym ‘Hoton’ remain a subject of debate, with connections drawn to the Uyghurs, Kyrgyz, Kalmyks, and Oirat Mongols. Based on Russian, European, Mongolian, and Chinese sources, the authors of the article explore various perspectives on the origin of the Hotons, addressing their migration history, religious beliefs, and the challenges of preserving traditions, language, and identity within a Mongolic-speaking environment. To achieve this goal, field expeditions, interviews, and surveys of informants were conducted, along with a lexical analysis of the language, focusing particularly on anthroponyms. The study revealed that traditional Turkic naming customs persist among the Hotons, including name taboos, clan-based naming, regional ethnic interactions, and naming linked to zoonymy and social status (Altaic-Turkic suffixoids: -khan, -bai, -tai, -dai). Typical Hoton names feature long final vowels (aa, oo, ee: Shaldaa, Shövöö, Choydoo, Javaa), attributed to Mongolic influence. Further phonetic
changes under Mongolic influence are observed in derivational suffixoids: khan shifts to khaan/khon, bai > boi/voi/bo, dai/tai > daa, etc. It is likely that the Hoton language is undergoing strong assimilation by Mongolic languages and is now on the verge of extinction.
The Hoton language has also been influenced by Russian, Indo-Tibetan, and Arabic-Persian linguistic contacts.
The anthroponyms identified in this study can serve as a valuable resource for documenting and enriching the lexical database of the endangered Hoton language.

Oral speech peculiarities of repatriates from Mongolia

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The phonetics of the Kazakh language underwent significant changes during the Soviet period, influenced by the phonological laws of the Russian language. However, these externally imposed linguistic changes disrupted the internal phonetic patterns inherent to Kazakh, a member of the Turkic language family. A key issue in this context is the principle of synharmonism, which is integral to Kazakh phonology and remains a focal point in discussions surrounding the reform of the
Kazakh alphabet. Linguistic scholars argue that the phonetic divergence between native Kazakh lexemes and borrowed words threatens the preservation of the language’s distinct phonological identity.
Despite these influences, the phonetic integrity of Kazakh has been relatively well maintained among Mongolian Kazakhs.
Eethnic Kazakhs, who lived outside of Kazakhstan and repatriated to their ancestral homeland following the country's independence in 1991 are officially called kandas (which means “of the same blood”). The oral
traditions of these communities have played a crucial role in conserving key phonetic features such as sound interchange regularities, vowel harmony, and specific consonantal properties. To thoroughly examine this phenomenon, field research was conducted in 2023 involving Kazakh repatriates from Mongolia, aged between 22 and 70, residing in the Akmola region and Astana city. The analysis of linguistic data collected through structured interviews revealed the retention of phonetic attributes characteristic of traditional Kazakh speech. These include the continued use of affricates, systematic alternation of hard and soft sounds, and distinctive articulatory patterns in consonant pronunciation. Such findings highlight the resilience of Kazakh phonetic norms among repatriated communities, contrasting with phonetic shifts in Kazakhstan influenced by prolonged Russian linguistic contact.
This study underscores the significance of phonetic research in language revitalization and policymaking, emphasizing the necessity of aligning the Kazakh alphabet reform with the phonological principles intrinsic to the language. Moreover, it highlights the role of diaspora communities in preserving linguistic heritage, providing valuable insights into phonetic conservation in multilingual environments. Future research should further explore the impact of sociolinguistic factors on phonetic variation and investigate strategies to integrate
historically authentic phonetic structures into contemporary Kazakh linguistic education and policy frameworks.