August 1st is celebrated as the Day of the Azerbaijani Alphabet and the Azerbaijani Language. This significant day was established by the Decree of National Leader Heydar Aliyev dated August 9, 2001. The Great Leader signed this Decree taking into account that the transition to the Azerbaijani alphabet based on the Latin script was fully ensured in our country in August 2001, and that the use of the new alphabet was an important event in the socio-political life of independent Azerbaijan and in the history of our writing culture.
Despite the obstacles created during the Soviet era, the Azerbaijani language, which has unshakable foundations, was able to preserve its existence. The establishment of an independent Institute of Linguistics within the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences in 1945 gave a serious impetus to the development of our linguistics as a science. In subsequent years, the services of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in protecting the Azerbaijani language from existing threats and preserving it for future generations should be especially noted. When the new Constitution of the USSR was approved in 1977, the National Leader, who could not reconcile with the fact that a clause on the state language was not included, demonstrated his principled position on this issue until the end. On April 2, 1978, at the seventh session of the ninth convocation of the Supreme Soviet dedicated to the draft Constitution of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic and the results of its nationwide discussion, it was decided to present Article 73 with a new amendment at the insistence of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, who delivered a report. This amendment reflected that the state language of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic was the Azerbaijani language. Despite all the difficulties, the National Leader’s achievement of such a historic decision was a major step in the development of our language, which is considered the basis of our spiritual existence.
elchi examines the measures taken in the modern independent Republic of Azerbaijan towards the protection and development of our language.
The efforts of the Great Leader towards protecting the Azerbaijani language from the negative effects of the era of globalization and its development are invaluable contributions to our people. The decrees signed by the National Leader on July 18, 2001, “On improving the application of the state language,” and on August 9 of the same year, “On the establishment of the Day of the Azerbaijani Alphabet and the Azerbaijani Language,” are among his unparalleled services in terms of protecting and developing our mother tongue. On January 2, 2003, the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On the State Language in the Republic of Azerbaijan” came into force by the Decree of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev. The law clearly states the main tasks in the direction of the state’s care for the mother tongue.
The political line of the National Leader, who took great steps to protect our mother tongue despite all obstacles and difficulties, is being confidently continued by President Ilham Aliyev. With the Order of the head of state dated January 12, 2004, “On the implementation of mass publications in the Azerbaijani language with Latin script,” a list of works to be published annually in the Azerbaijani alphabet with Latin script is prepared. Furthermore, with the orders “On the publication of the National Encyclopedia of Azerbaijan” on January 14 of the same year, as well as “On the approval of the list of works by prominent representatives of world literature intended for publication in the Azerbaijani language” on December 30, 2007, the detailed application of the mother tongue in all spheres of our life was realized. The approval of the “State Program on the use of the Azerbaijani language in accordance with the requirements of the time in the context of globalization and the development of linguistics in the country” by the President of Azerbaijan, taking into account the requirements and realities of the modern era, with his Order dated April 9, 2013, is an important historical event in terms of protecting the purity and richness of our mother tongue, which is the mirror of our national and spiritual existence. The purpose of the State Program is to increase state care for the use and research of the Azerbaijani language, the use of our language in accordance with the requirements of the time in the context of globalization, and the improvement of linguistic research in the country. The document also envisages combining creative efforts aimed at the development of fundamental and applied research in the leading directions of linguistics and linking linguistics with the current problems of modern society. President Ilham Aliyev’s Order dated July 17, 2018, “On a number of measures related to ensuring the wider use of the Azerbaijani language in the electronic space,” is of special importance in terms of further expanding the scope of development and application of the Azerbaijani language. The Decree signed by the head of state on November 1, 2018, “On measures related to the protection of the purity of the Azerbaijani language and further improvement of the use of the state language,” once again confirms that the state language is always kept in the spotlight in our country. This document related to language construction is one of the important steps taken towards strengthening the national-spiritual, political-legal status of the Azerbaijani language.
Let us recall that within the framework of the implementation of the tasks arising from that Decree, the Monitoring Center under the State Language Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established by the relevant decision of the Cabinet of Ministers. The center has conducted monitoring regarding the language of more than sixty websites and published the report reflecting the results in the form of a book.