On the 34-letter common Turkic frame alphabe

Abstract

The dissolution of the Soviet Union meant a relaxation of control mechanisms over Turkic peoples of Eurasia, and five Turkic nations emerged as sovereign independent nation-states namely Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The post-Soviet era also meant a freer environment for Turkic peoples under new sovereignties, such as the Gagauz people in Moldova and Crimean Tatars in Ukraine. A degree of liberalization took place in Russia, too, as in the case of Tatarstan. At this new conjuncture in the period from 1991-3, a series of conventions convened to form a common Turkic alphabet among Turkic languages in order to establish closer bonds, and enable mutual literacy among these languages. Not only did academics and linguists attend, but some officials from the newly independent republics participated, as well. As a result, the 34-letter Common Turkic Frame Alphabet was formed from which every Turkic nation was to use the same letters to represent the same phonemes. However, some nations adopted alphabets that violated the 34-letter Common Turkic Frame Alphabet. My study shows that there was a strong willingness on the Turkish side to compromise with Turkic counterparts in the conventions. As a result, I propose to look at socioeconomic factors and nation-building processes in the region to explain the reasons why the project did not succeed as hoped.