Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences

The roundtable discussion themed “Use of the Azerbaijani Language: Successes, Challenges, and Tasks” was held at the Central Scientific Library (CSL) of ANAS.

The event was organized by the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Culture Committee of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Participants included the president of ANAS, academician Isa Habibbeyli, Deputy Minister of Culture, Saadat Yusifova, Chairman of the Culture Committee of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Fazil Mustafa, parliamentarians, representatives from the Baku City Executive Power, Azerbaijan Writers' Union, the Monitoring Center under the State Language Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Central Scientific Library of ANAS, the Institute of Linguistics of ANAS, and the media.

In his opening speech, the president of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, academician Isa Habibbeyli said that the event was dedicated to the current state of the Azerbaijani language, its challenges, and future tasks.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli stated that during the keynote and profound speech of the head of the country in the 70^th anniversary of ANAS, valuable thoughts about the Azerbaijani language were expressed, including tasks assigned to our scientists, intellectuals, and public figures to protect the purity of our language. He emphasized that the primary objectives discussed at the round table include providing scientific support for enriching our language through internal resources and identifying methods to prevent the influx of foreign words into our language.

Academician Isa Habibbeyli mentioned that significant research is underway at the Institute of Linguistics of ANAS named after Nasimi in various areas, including the use of the Azerbaijani language, the preservation of literary language norms, and the maintenance of language purity. He added that numerous methodological and practical measures are being implemented in the Speech Culture and Monitoring Department of the Institute. The academician pointed out that the Monitoring Center under the State Language Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan regularly also takes measures to protect the purity of our native language. Monitoring is conducted on the articles and speeches of journalists and presenters in the media and on TV, as well as in the lyrics of musicians, and these findings are published in book form.

Stating that the Azerbaijani language has become richer during the years of independence and has maintained its place among the world's languages, the head of ANAS mentioned the presence of foreign influences in the language and emphasized the importance of taking necessary measures to prevent these influences. He noted that the discussions would give impetus to the ongoing efforts in this direction.

Speaking later, chairman of the Culture Committee of the Milli Majlis of the Azerbaijan Republic, parliamentarian Fazil Mustafa pointed out that language is a common issue for all of us. He noted that these discussions were held in response to several appeals from our writers, especially Seyran Sakhavat.

“Those who sound the alarm about our native language are right. Today, the state, people, and intellectuals of Azerbaijan have a language, but its philosophers do not have a language, that is, a language of thought. People who can transform their native language into a language of thought can make a difference. Language enrichment depends on written texts. There is a problem with the isolation of the Azerbaijani language. We need to expand its boundaries and turn it into a language of thought,” said the parliamentarian.

He said that even if a concrete result cannot be reached in the discussions, a common opinion can be formed, which will help our language become a language of thought and enrich it.

Saadat Yusifova, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, noted in her speech that the National Leader Heydar Aliyev always took special care of our native language and tried to protect its purity. Stating that President Ilham Aliyev is successfully continuing the policy of the National Leader, Saadat Yusifova recalled that the head of the country signed a decree "On measures to protect the purity of the Azerbaijani language and further improve the use of the state language."

Saying that the language policy of our state is implemented as part of our national and moral values and is regularly protected, the deputy minister noted that the native language plays an important role in educating the young generation in a patriotic spirit. She stressed that in the face of global challenges, we should strive to protect the purity of our native language, change our attitude towards the language, and take pride in speaking the Azerbaijani language.

Writer-publicist Seyran Sakhavat delivered an extensive report on the language violations he uncovered through his observations of television channels. Highlighting the important aspects of language fluency in Azerbaijan's media space, the writer emphasized that constructing a sentence is as challenging as building a state. Seyran Sakhavat enumerated the problems with specific facts and proposed several solutions related to language protection.   

Following this, Director of the Monitoring Center under the State Language Commission, Professor Sevinj Aliyeva, emphasized the importance of protecting of the Azerbaijani language, which is one of the most beautiful languages in the world. She spoke about the orders, decrees and speeches of President Ilham Aliyev related to this issue. It was highlighted that, as the Chairman of the State Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Language, Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev protects not only the state and its independence but also its native language. Speaking about the monitoring carried out by the center to identify existing problems, Sevinj Aliyeva noted that the results are presented in the form of a report.  

Member of the Culture Committee of the Milli Majlis, People’s poet Sabir Rustamkhanly, member of the Culture Committee of the Milli Majlis, academician Nizami Jafarov, member of the Milli Majlis Committee on Science and Education, academician Rafael Huseynov and member of the Milli Majlis Committee on Science and Education Etibar Aliyev, as well as director of the Institute of Linguistics of ANAS named after Nasimi, Professor Nadir Mammadli, and deputy chairman of the Terminology Commission at the Cabinet of Ministers, Professor Sayaly Sadygova, writer Agshin Yenisey, Honored journalist Mubaiz Asgarov and others discussed the language policy implemented in our country and noted the importance of state programs for the protection and development of our native language. Speakers expressed their concern about violations of the norms and principles of the literary language on some platforms.

After the discussions, Academician Isa Habibbeyli presented the guests with Mahmud Kashgari's “Dîvânu Lugâti’t-Türk” work.

The photos were taken in the end as a remembrance of the day.

Translator: Reyhan Majidli, Public Relations, Press and Information Department of the Presidium Administration of ANAS

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