The new commemoration emphasizes the shared linguistic and cultural heritage of Turkic-speaking peoples and reinforces UNESCO’s commitment to multilingualism and cultural diversity.
A historic date
December 15 was chosen due to its significance in linguistic history. On this day in 1893, Danish linguist Vilhelm Thomsen revealed his deciphering of the Orkhon inscriptions’ alphabet, some of the earliest written records of the Turkic language family.
His discovery paved the way for a deeper comprehension of a linguistic tradition that today connects numerous communities across Eurasia.
A global linguistic family
Turkic languages, such as Azeri, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkish, Turkmen, and Uzbek, are spoken by over 200 million people across an area of about 12 million square kilometers.
UNESCO highlights that these languages possess a rich written tradition, strong oral heritage, and diverse cultural practices shared among many Member States.
The new Day’s proclamation followed a joint request from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan and was backed by 21 Member States, indicating widespread appreciation of linguistic diversity.
Strengthen cooperation
According to UNESCO, this annual celebration is consistent with the UN’s broader multilingualism agenda as outlined in General Assembly resolution 71/328.
By dedicating a day to the Turkish language family, the agency seeks to promote linguistic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and dialogue between civilizations.
Planned activities include awareness-raising initiatives, academic research, and programs aimed at safeguarding Turkish languages and oral traditions.
Annual celebration
The day will feature exhibitions, conferences, literary events, and artistic performances to showcase the historical and contemporary significance of Turkish languages.
UNESCO asserts that the commemoration provides an opportunity to honor linguistic diversity as part of humanity’s common heritage and to bolster international efforts to protect languages as vital carriers of identity, knowledge, and cultural expression.
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