In Kazakhstan, government agencies and akimats have been recommended to temporarily refrain from placing signs and banners in Latin script. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
The restrictions apply to both state and private organizations. They have been asked to wait for the approval of the new Kazakh alphabet based on the Latin script.
Ministry's Statement
The Ministry of Science and Higher Education stated that central state and local executive bodies have been recommended to suspend the placement of visual and other information of all organizations, regardless of their form of ownership, in Latin script until the improved alphabet is approved.
According to the ministry, linguists from the Institute of Linguistics, the National Scientific and Practical Center "Til-Qazyna", and universities are currently refining the draft of the Kazakh alphabet and spelling rules based on the Latin script.
Financial Matters
Earlier, Kursiv reported that the majority of funds allocated for the transition of the Kazakh alphabet to Latin script were returned to the budget due to changes in work plans.
Additional funds from the republican budget for the project and digital services will be allocated only after the official approval of the alphabet and all regulatory acts.
Purpose of Temporary Measures
This temporary ban aims to prevent inconsistencies in various inscriptions before the introduction of unified standards for the new alphabet. Currently, scientists are working on the final version of the alphabet, so government agencies and private organizations are recommended to refrain from using Latin script until official approval.
These measures will help streamline the process of transitioning the Kazakh language to Latin script and ensure unified standards in the future. The ministry plans to present the alphabet project to the public after completion.
Additional Information
It is worth noting that Kazakhstan has been transitioning to the Latin script for several years. This process consists of several stages, and various adjustments are made at each stage. Recently, special attention has been paid to developing an improved version of the alphabet.
Scientists and linguists are striving to create an alphabet that fully covers the sound system of the Kazakh language and is convenient to use. This work is carried out with the participation of language experts, scientists, and public representatives.
After the new alphabet is approved, clear instructions for its use will be developed. Until then, all organizations are recommended to refrain from using Latin script.
These temporary measures are aimed at ensuring a high-quality and systematic transition of the Kazakh language to Latin script. The ministry continues to work closely with all stakeholders.