Nazarbayev University Unveils First Kazakh-English Dictionary from Oxford
Nazarbayev University Hosts Presentation of First Kazakh-English and English-Kazakh Oxford Qazaq Dictionary
ASTANA – Nazarbayev University recently hosted the unveiling of the first Kazakh-English and English-Kazakh Oxford Qazaq Dictionary on Dec. 19. The dictionary, developed by the Qazaq Tili international association, was presented at the university and marks a significant development in promoting the Kazakh language on the global stage.
The event was attended by NU Acting President Ilesanmi Adesida, Kazakh Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, Mazhilis Deputy Kazybek Isa, British Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kathy Leach, and Head of Qazaq Tili International Association Rauan Kenzhekhanuly.
This groundbreaking dictionary is based on the Oxford Qazaq Dictionary, and it will be included in the Oxford Global Languages platform, which is the most widespread and authoritative dictionary network globally. This inclusion will give the Kazakh language the opportunity to join the global linguistic community and preserve its legacy in the digital age.
According to Nurbek, the preservation of the Kazakh language through its systematization in the digital world is one of the crucial directions within the framework of the ministry’s adopted seven-year concept. The creation of a unified language corpus systematically codified on digital and virtual platforms is seen as the guarantee for preserving the language. The Oxford Qazaq Dictionary aims to link the Kazakh language with the global language corpus, uniting the vocabulary of the 100 most important and basic languages worldwide.
The Oxford Qazaq Dictionary captures contemporary shifts in the lexicons of both Kazakh and English languages, incorporating updates from modern culture, technology, medicine, economics, finance, and trade. It also provides concise guidelines on English and Kazakh grammar, pronunciation, and spelling, as well as examples of business and electronic correspondence in Kazakh.
The dictionary, which has been in the making for four years, encompasses over 60,000 words and spans 1,300 pages. It has received official approval from the renowned publisher Oxford University Press, and the inaugural edition has a print run of 10,000 copies.
Adesida highlighted the significance of hosting the presentation at NU, emphasizing the university’s strong department and its active contribution to the development of practical Kazakh and research in language, literature, and culture. The NU library has acquired 50 copies of the dictionary, underscoring the institution’s commitment to promoting the Kazakh language and culture.
