Happy 749th Anniversary of Turkish Language Day
In his message issued on the occasion of the 749th anniversary of Turkish Language Day, the Rector of Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan emphasized that Turkish is one of the most powerful values carrying a nation’s historical memory, cultural identity, and civilizational heritage, and stated the following:
Happy 749th Anniversary of Turkish Language Day
Language is one of the most powerful values that carries a nation’s memory, intellectual horizon, cultural continuity, and civilizational worldview. Historical consciousness, a shared sense of belonging, and cultural depth that sustain societies are transmitted from generation to generation through language. Therefore, preserving and developing Turkish and passing it on to future generations with a strong legacy is not only a linguistic responsibility but also an act of commitment to our civilizational heritage.
As one of the world’s oldest and richest languages, Turkish with its thousands of years of historical accumulation, strong expressive capacity, and cultural memory, is one of the main carriers of our nation’s common voice and identity. In this sense, Turkish is a great language of civilization that shapes thought, preserves culture, and builds our shared future.
The decree issued on 13 May 1277 by Karamanoğlu Mehmet Bey, which states: “From this day forth, no one in the palace, the divan, the council, or in public places shall speak any language other than Turkish,” holds great significance not only as the declaration of Turkish as an official language, but also as a symbol of linguistic awareness, cultural independence, and collective memory.
As Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, we highly value the development of Turkish as a language of science, its advancement toward a stronger future through the opportunities of the digital age, and its greater visibility in the international academic arena. Through our activities ranging from education and research to cultural initiatives and international cooperation, we continue to contribute to the richness of the Turkish language.
On this meaningful occasion, we commemorate with respect, gratitude, and mercy all scholars, educators, writers, and language enthusiasts who have contributed to the preservation, development, and flourishing of Turkish, foremost among them Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and I sincerely congratulate the 13th of May Turkish Language Day.
I wish for our Turkish language, with its deep-rooted heritage, to continue to flourish and be carried into the future together with science, culture, and shared human values.
Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Ceylan
Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University Rector