Building a Bridge of Tongues: One Uzbek Linguist’s Pursuit of Turkic Unity

For nearly five decades, Uzbek linguist Dr. Bakhtiyor Karimov has worked quietly on an ambitious vision: the creation of a shared, auxiliary language for Turkic-speaking nations. What began as a spark of inspiration on a trolleybus in 1974 became a lifelong intellectual project shaped by history, hardship, and support from prominent regional figures. Karimov’s idea, what he calls the “Averaged Turkic Language”, was born not from political ideology but from a desire to preserve and connect cultures. “If our children cannot access the world’s knowledge in their own tongue, how can they innovate?” he once asked. A Lifelong Vision Conceived in Silence The concept took shape in the shadows of the Soviet Union, where Pan-Turkic ideas were taboo. Karimov and his colleague Shoahmad Mutalov developed their theories discreetly, using mathematical models to explore linguistic convergence. They coined the term “Eesopic” to mask their proposals, likening it to Aesop’s allegories. In 1980, Karimov presented his formulas at a Turkology conference in Tashkent, illustrating affinities among Turkic languages. The room, initially confused by the mathematical display, fell silent when the implications became clear: this was about regional unity through language. The session was cut short. Still, in 1982, their paper was quietly published under the title Language Policy Solutions for Developing Countries, disguised as a study on African and Asian contexts. This allowed Karimov’s ideas to survive Soviet censorship and enter academic circulation. From Perestroika to Independence The late 1980s gave Karimov space to speak more openly. He published theoretical sketches under allegorical titles and refined his proposals, ranging from grammar convergence to script reform. After Uzbekistan’s independence in 1991, he carried his vision to Kazakhstan, where he helped establish a Turkology Center and spoke of reviving Chagatai, the classical literary language once shared across Central Asia. Despite early support, funding dried up. At one point, he suffered heart trouble during a meeting and was left unattended in a hospital corridor until a local cultural leader intervened. “I owe my heart to the Averaged Turkic Language,” he later said, reflecting on how the project had shaped every corner of his life. Digital Revival and Regional Interest In recent years, interest in Karimov’s ideas has quietly revived. In 2022, a Kazakh team led by Dr. Miriyev launched OzTurk, a simplified digital prototype that uses linguistic inputs from various Turkic languages to create a common vocabulary. Though limited in scope, the program demonstrated the feasibility of Karimov’s concept. The idea has even reached Turkish media, with headlines celebrating “A Bridge of Tongues for a New Era.” Yet formal institutional backing has remained elusive. Karimov estimates that establishing an Averaged Turkic Language Institute would require just $3 million, $500,000 from each of six Turkic states. “That’s a small price to pay for preserving our languages,” he argues. A Broader Vision Karimov’s ambitions extend beyond the Turkic world. In 1992, he presented a similar proposal for an Averaged Iranian Language, drawing on shared roots among Persian, Dari, Tajik, Pashto, Kurdish, and other languages. His papers were...

The Turkic World in the Heart of Europe: OTS Leaders Discuss Economy, Transport, and Unity

On May 21, 2025, an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) convened in Budapest, uniting leaders of member countries and observers in the symbolic heart of Europe. The heads of Kazakhstan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, along with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, discussed key areas of cooperation, including the economy, transport, digitalization, and adherence to international agreements. The summit was held under the motto “Meeting Place of East and West.” Tokayev: Uniform Standards Could Boost GDP by 1% Annually Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the need for deeper economic integration among Turkic states and advocated for the rapid adoption of a model law to streamline exports among OTS members. “Uniform standards will ensure annual GDP growth of about 1%,” Tokayev said, highlighting that the collective GDP of OTS countries stands at approximately $1.4 trillion, with mutual trade already exceeding $22 billion. According to him, the potential exists to increase this figure by 1.5 times. Tokayev also stressed the importance of respecting existing agreements within the OTS framework. “The norms established in all agreements, whether procedural, political, or economic, must be strictly observed,” he said. He proposed intensifying joint infrastructure projects, particularly those aligned with the North-South and Middle Corridor transport routes connecting East and West. Kazakhstan, he noted, is modernizing border logistics with China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, including launching a new railway checkpoint. In addition, Tokayev highlighted the need to expand supply chains for oil, gas, uranium, and other resources. He thanked Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for facilitating increased Kazakh oil exports to Europe via Azerbaijan. Unity and Vision from Member States Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov described the summit as laying a “solid foundation for sustainable development,” linking it to the November 2023 summit in Bishkek. President Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan’s emerging role as a Eurasian logistics hub, stating that Baku has invested over $20 billion in the economies of OTS member states. An important development was the announcement that the Turkic Investment Fund, intended to foster economic cohesion, will begin operations soon. Several key documents were adopted at the summit, including the Budapest Declaration, a statement by the Council of Heads of State on Afghanistan, the decision on Uzbekistan’s accession to the Turkic Culture and Heritage Fund, and the extension of Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev’s mandate. The Hungarian Dimension and Cultural Ties Hosting the summit for the first time, Hungary underscored its unique position as an OTS observer. Prime Minister Orbán, who promotes the notion of Turkic roots among Hungarians, has championed closer ties with the Turkic world. Kyrgyz historian Tyntchtykbek Chorotegin pointed out that Hungarian shares structural and grammatical features with Turkic languages, such as suffixation and the absence of prefixes. Cultural similarities extend beyond linguistics. Nomadic traditions persist in both regions, evident in culinary parallels like goulash and kuurdaq, shared housing styles, equestrian practices, and enthusiasm for folk games. European athletes' growing participation in the World Nomad Games further illustrates strengthening cultural bonds. The Budapest summit was more than a diplomatic gathering; it marked...