Astana. January 10. KazTAG - Anastasiya Prilepskaya. The issues of state language regulation have been actively discussed in Kazakhstan. Recently, a loud statement concerning the status of Kazakh and Russian languages has been signed by culture and political figures. The Ministry of Culture presented a dictionary of literary Kazakh language, first time issued in the latest 25 years. Gaziz Telebayev, deputy minister of culture, told KazTAG about the future of the Kazakh language, sphere of its applications and which words cannot be translated.
-Gaziz Turysbekovich, defining dictionary of the Kazakh language was not reissued since Soviet Union's time…
-That's true, last time 10 volumes defining dictionary of the Kazakh language was issued in 1986, since that time there were no issues. Ideological and political changes took place in this period of time and a new dictionary was needed. This dictionary has 15 volumes - it is not reissue of the old one, it is a new dictionary of modern Kazakh literary language. It includes over 150 000 terms and phrases. Stylistic peculiarity of some of them is that they can be used in spoken language and considered as slang. But it is also our language that we speak. The dictionary includes slang words, which are used, for example, by teenagers, and also something from youth and professional slang.
But the main thing, of course, is that the dictionary consists of terms, used in written language and literature. Each word is accompanied with a small article, explanation of its meaning and correct use.
-What about neologisms? Some specialists believe that if a term is established, it needs no translation. Others believe that big number of foreign words pollute the language. What is your point of view?
-That is true, many words have come to our language in the last decade. There are different experts' opinions about that. Some people believe that a language must not be polluted and the Kazakh language has words which can express the same term. There is no a simple, primitive approach, in each case many circumstances must be weighted. How much is a term widespread in the world? Which languages have this term? If besides English, it exists in French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, then why should we fear this term?
If some neologisms are used in narrow professional environment, for example, in English, perhaps, it is worth to look for an analogue in Kazakh, which has the same meaning but has Turkic routs. Now many language experts believe that the Kazakh language like any other one is a live organism, which is developing, new words are added.
But a source mustn't be limited only with one language or one direction, for example, English or Russia. The Kazakh language has many words taken from Arab or Farsi. In 1920th the work on literary Kazakh language development was held.
-In that time there was a strong flow of Soviet terms into the Kazakh language. What should be done with language elements? Will they be liquidated?
-When the question is in language, terms and words, we cannot talk about liquidation or prohibition of something. Language is a live organism, nothing can be forbidden in it. But there are language norms. According to them, the words which used to be in theKazakh language are not used now, because there is a Kazakh synonym replacing the foreign meaning. This way, foreign words tend to gradually withdraw from use.
-Talking about the culture of speech, now foreign films are dubbed in Kazakh language. Including Hollywood production, where there are many slang phrases taken from Western culture. What do they do while dubbing these words? Do we need such dubbing?
-Dubbing is essential from my point of view. For Kazakh people to be able to get information in their mother language and for those who do not know the language to awake interest to learn it. I saw some films dubbed from Turkish language, I also saw South-Korean series. The translation was quite good, literary, it was close to mentality of that country, but it was not alien for our mentality.
-But Korean series are about love, philosophy, human values, while Turkish films, the language is close to Kazakh, and Turkish mentality in some terms...
-Yes, it is close to Kazakh.
-But the question is in Hollywoodor European films, this culture is absolutely different. How much does the translation need adaptation to escape some words and phrases?
-There is no a uniform recipe to say: do so or this way. We will have to look for a compromise, not to lose the sense, the meaning of what there is in a Western cartoon or a film. But it is worth trying to approximate some things close to ours in dubbing way. Another question is not in dubbing, but in the policy of films purchase and running in Kazakhstan. I think that those films which have no educational sense are not worth buying. There are many films in Hollywoodwhich have violence, cruelty and platitude.
-The government allocates 300 mln tenge for films dubbing in 2012. Will it be possible to pay for the expenses with box-office takings from dubbed films run?
-Box office takings will be low in comparison to the films ran in the Russian language. But as time goes buy, I think, they will equalize. I am sure that the future is in the Kazakh language in Kazakhstan. It doesn't mean that Russian will totally disappear. I hope that Russian will stay and English will come. Three languages will be a norm for every young person.
-What is your opinion about politicization of the Kazakh language issue?
-I think that language question mustn't be politicized. First, development questions are complicated and controversial, there are different complicated and controversial opinions, in fact, experts' opinions are different on the same issue. Thus, it is always necessary to look for wise compromises. Language branch, the branch of communications is broader than any politics. As language is formed in live communication, people use words and it cannot be regulated by political decisions.
Youth, every generation develop its language, its slang. I remember we used some words in my youth, now they are now spoken.
-There are contrary opinions concerning the state language development. One declares that the Kazakh language is being inoculated, others believe that the government does not work hard to develop the state language. What is your opinion?
-I think both points are wrong. In my opinion the government does not inoculate anything; at the same time they work hard to develop the state language. I think the government has chosen the sole correct way. Our way is to give opportunity. Our dictionary has been sent to all the regions, to language and education departments. The publications will come to schools and universities, where language knowledge is based. I hope we will reap the benefits in 5-10 years, when big part of our population will speak the state language fluently.
-Thank you for the interview!