About the Russian language in the republic

Some people being in the sphere of political and economic processes of the republic, make impression wishing constantly, just in case, to confirm the direct participation in these processes, putting forward quite often unreasoned and unreasonable ideas and initiatives.

At least, raised in high offices by some known people in the country the questions of gradual rejection of Kazakhstan citizens from the Russian language, reductions of hours of its studying in educational institutions, ignoring by some officials of the status of the Russian as official under the country constitution, suggest such idea.

These misters, in my opinion, live in any world thought up by them and long ago already forgot that there is the land under them, the people go on it and it is advisable to present first of all: how they will treat this question, what negative sides can arise at their decision?

Earlier, in 2004 in the Karavan newspaper, in the Respublika newspaper in 2007 I acted, proving the need of giving of the state status to the Russian language where, by the way, I offered the dialogue in any audience to the potential opponents or to express the arguments in the press. However, for the entire period I didn't hear and didn't see in the printing any competent reasoned answer or justification in favour of refusal in statehood to the Russian language.

Beginning from high-ranking to the lowest official, they say only the one thing: “In Kazakhstan all have to speak the Kazakh language”. But why all and what it will give to language, the people or the country, nobody can tell. Probably, it is a trait of character of our people: to hear only itself? This feature of the compatriots revolted once even Abay: “Өз сөзінен басқа сөзді үқпайтүғын, аузымен орақ орған өңкей қыртың”. The translation sounds approximately so: "Not listen to the words, who mown all hay crop by language”.

These people, stating the cleverest thoughts in the Russian, using it as main “instrument” of self-expression, also encroach on it. They don't consider that the Russian language supplies 99% of vital activity and developments of the country and our people. It is the language, which 90 years became a basis of origin of the secular Republic of Kazakhstan and thanks to what the republic for this period sated with difficulties and victories, rose to level of the countries with thousand-year stories back.

It is unclear, what the misters political strategists want else? To tear off now all these achievements, science, equipment, industrial technology, medicine from the people - all intelligence which developed by means of the Russian, plus million books, not only art, but also technical, scientific, financial economic etc., saved up in libraries and book-depositories, to return on initial positions of1920 year and to begin this way at first with the language and separately with the people even without writing? And maybe, the historical role only to translate the foreign thoughts is prepared for us, without straining the brains and without creating the mind?

Some of deputies of Majilis, without pressing in depth of this question, with a regret complains that laws are written in the Russian language and then are translated into the Kazakh language, thus don't finish speaking that lawyers, using these laws in the judicial and legal cases, back pass to a statement in the Russian because of imperfection of the Kazakh language that can't officially admit. What does this game by a situation give and to whom it is necessary?

There is also other problem arising because of similar disrespect for the Russian language - it is an amplifying outflow of the Russian-speaking population. 20-30 people who are making out the departure from the country sit in visiting days in Uralsk consulate. Production workers suffer from it, first of all, - probably, it is difficult to understand it to misters deputies; I think, there is no vacancy in Majilis, all are suitable there and there is no lack of experts.

Though, I can't understand a psychological condition of the Russians in Kazakhstan, representatives of the people with the richest history, the great country which has got respect of the leading countries of the world, centuries playing a role of the leader among the people of the sixth part of a land of the globe. Suddenly today silently give in and, entraining other Russian-speaking, “run” under the aegis of Russia. After all a considerable share of the Russians and other people which aren't Kazakhs in formation of Kazakhstan as the states, in its development. Should they be presented in proportion to the number in all bodies of authority and management by the state? Is someone expressed rejection in it to someone? If, probably, someone's single street, it is far not mature, negative splashes sounded, so it is enough of them in the Russia. It is not because of foolishly shouters and it is not an occasion to hand over positions and to act from the equipped places.

Similar situations are observed in other republics which have received independence but who will tell with confidence that it is normal process? Why we have to allow the copying of these situations? Especially when the course of the country is directed on large-scale integration into economy of Russia on the basis of the created Customs Union. I think, now Russia will be interested to restore the positions in the republic.

As for a state language, the more the requirements to its application amplify, the more rejection from it, especially, as today say, in the “advanced” part of the Kazakh youth that without effort it is possible to check in offices of establishments of Astana. And it is not because of caprice or ignoring of the language, it is from impossibility of discussion on it difficult production and financial, medical and other questions and competent record keeping if discussion or drawing up the document is beyond in republican problems.

Besides, it is necessary to notice that the power pressure upon language application, as a rule, causes the return reaction in the form of an internal protest, and, as result, basic transition to the Russian, even in informal conversation.

It is necessary to recognize the weakness of the Kazakh language which was centuries in isolation from the language environment of other people, it wasn't enriched with loan words. The small number of our people and dissociation in the huge territory, a nomadic way of life allowed to develop only colloquial literary to the direction, other directions of speech accustomed during the Soviet period, and only in the Russian language.

Such condition of language isn't able to afford to load it the very heavy mass of information stream of today's time. The Kazakh language, one in a language field of the republic, won't give an impulse to country and people development, especially at youth; moreover it can be isolated from the international civilization processes, as though we strained all opportunities of our language.

Thousand of translated words, without managing to adapt, will litter the natural beauty and art features of the Kazakh language, pushing away new generations from its studying and application in life.

In this situation it would be more reasonable than it to leave able in what it remained up to now, to bring up on its basis a new form of communication among Kazakhs, without stuffing the heads with hastily translated terminology. For the Kazakh youth it has to become the language expressing the developed historical and national features of Kazakhs, the language cultivating patriotism and love for the country.

Besides our language demands today serious work on change of style of its application in the modern life. Many experts of language and people of the senior generation, trying to keep a form of dialogue of our ancestors, often are fond of measured verbosity, style which was convenient about hundred years ago, at other rates of life. Similar speech, as a rule, is sated with compound grandiloquent words, sayings, proverbs, words known in the history of people that finally turns into ordinary idle talk and mere verbiage. Many used proverbs and sayings already got rid long ago of the time and do harm as to language which has to grind in more exact, specifically expressed form at the present stage and to psychology of young people, braking vital speed necessary for them.

If to address to experience of the development of the Russian language, it would be not superfluous to notice that not less than a half of an existing lexicon in the Russian language is the words borrowed from other languages and adapted in its environment. In Russia nobody is anxious with a problem of translation of all foreign words arriving in the general information stream, thus there don't consider that any features of language are lost from it.

The richness of the Russian and its ability is easy to perceive quickly changing time also speak well for that it has to be studied equally since the childhood and remain the bridge between our people and a world civilization - such that are Spanish, French, English for many other people.

We, consisting in citizenship of Russia about 300 years, never expressed disrespect for the Russian language and its people, moreover, grew thanks to this language. Now it became vital need for us if we still want to remain among the world developing countries.

I think, even in this rather short article there are enough arguments in favour of transfer of the Russian language to the status of the state. Misters legislators, in my opinion, are simply obliged to study seriously a question of the Russian and its place in the long term society and country developments and forever to fix its position in Kazakhstan.