KRSU discussed the problems of preserving the Russian language in Kyrgyzstan
The role of the Russian language in the sociocultural and educational space of the Kyrgyz Republic became a topic of discussion during the scientific and practical conference «Russian language in Kyrgyzstan: past, present and future», which took place on December 15 at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University named after the first President of the Russian Federation B.N. Yeltsin.
The conference was organized by the Russian Language Institute KRSU, which began work in October of this year. The conference brought together offline and online more than 70 prominent scientists, politicians, school principals, representatives of public associations, students and undergraduates of universities in Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
The conference was opened by the rector of KRSU V.I. Nifadiev. Noting the enormous importance of a broad and competent discussion of the problem of balanced interaction between the Russian and Kyrgyz languages in the conditions of a multi-ethnic society of Kyrgyzstan, he wished the participants a constructive dialogue.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Kyrgyz Republic N.N. addressed the conference participants with a welcoming speech. Udovichenko. He emphasized that the topic of the conference is extremely important for both countries, not only from a historical perspective, but also in light of modern actively developing integration processes uniting Russia and Kyrgyzstan within the EAEU.
The head of the Rossotrudnichestvo representative office in the Kyrgyz Republic, V.L., drew attention to the need for education in Russian that exists today in Kyrgyzstan. Nefedov. According to him, at present it is not fully satisfied and creates a situation of shortage of Russian-language education.
An objective picture of the situation of the Russian language in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and in particular in Kyrgyzstan, as well as the prospects for using the Russian language as a means of international communication, was outlined in a video speech by the Vice-Rector for Science of the State Institute of Russian Language named after A.S. Pushkina M.A. Osadchiy (Moscow).
The tone of the discussion was set by the event moderator, Vice-Rector for Information and Public Relations KRSU L.I. Sumarokov. Having introduced the participants to the history of the formation of Kyrgyz-Russian bilingualism in Kyrgyzstan, he noted that «in the modern world, in the context of progressive globalization, bilingualism is becoming a necessity for most countries. And there is no infringement of their merits and rights –this is how history, geography, the world economy, and the processes of development of world and national cultures developed».
Various aspects of the fruitful interaction and mutual influence of the Russian and Kyrgyz languages and two national cultures over more than 150 years were revealed in their speeches by the honored guests of the conference – Chairman of the Council of the Assembly of the People of Kyrgyzstan, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic A.E. Erkebaev, professor Ch.T. Baekova, I.S. Bolzhurova and K.D. Bokonbaev, People's Writer of Kyrgyzstan M.T. Baidzhiev, People's Poet of the Kyrgyz Republic, translator V.I. Shapovalov. Deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh Dastan Bekeshev figuratively called the Russian language «window» into the space of world science and culture and noted the urgent need to support bilingualism and multilingualism in the country.
Leading Russian scholars of the republic – Deputy Director of the Center for Research of Turkic Civilization KTU «Manas», Professor Z.K. Derbisheva, head of the department of Russian language and literature at KSU named after I. Arabaeva, editor-in-chief of the magazine «Russian language and literature in schools of Kyrgyzstan», professor G.U. Soronkulov, Dean of the Faculty of Russian Philology at Osh State University, Professor G.A. Madmarov was touched upon by pain points in his speeches. Experts spoke with alarm about the narrowing of the spheres of functioning of the Russian language, the reduction of hours allocated for its study at school and the decline in the quality of teaching the Russian language, both in the system of secondary and higher education.
The speakers agreed that the teaching of both Russian and Kyrgyz languages, regardless of what language is taught, should be carried out at a high professional level and guarantee that young people receive solid knowledge. Some problematic aspects of the functioning of the Russian language in Kyrgyzstan were highlighted from a legal perspective by KRSU professor L.V. Khoperskaya.
All conference participants expressed a unanimous opinion: for the further successful development of the Kyrgyz Republic, its full inclusion in integration processes in the EAEU space and in the world cultural community, tireless care for the Russian and Kyrgyz languages –two «wings» of the past, present and future of Kyrgyzstan is required. A wish was also expressed to continue discussing the problem of the functioning and preservation of the Russian language in Kyrgyzstan in the format of thematic meetings, conferences and round tables, at which scientific, methodological and practical issues will be discussed in more detail.
Based on the results of the speeches and discussion, it was adopted conference resolution
