UNESCO Celebrates Oldest Turkic Dictionary ‘Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk’
The Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation recently organized an international conference at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, to discuss the significance of the first comprehensive dictionary of Turkic languages, known as the “Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk” (Compendium of the languages of the Turks).
The conference, titled Mapping the World in Lexicography: the 950th Anniversary of Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk, aimed to commemorate the 950th anniversary of this valuable treasure in Turkic linguistics. The author of this monumental work was the 11th-century Kara-Khanid scholar and lexicographer Mahmud al-Kashgari, who compiled the first Turkic-Arabic dictionary while traveling through Turkic lands. His work became a vital source for Central Asian history and ethnography, as well as a unique example of Islamic linguistic culture.
President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova highlighted the historical significance of “Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk” in fostering intercultural dialogue and preserving Turkic intangible heritage. She stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to safeguard Turkic cultural traditions in the face of rapid globalization.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa and External Relations Firmin Edouard Matoko emphasized the global significance of this work, referring to “Divanü Lüğat-it-Türk” as an encyclopedia showcasing the history and richness of Turkic peoples.
During the event, a replica of the original “Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk” manuscript, housed at the Ali Emiri Efendi Library in Istanbul, was displayed along with informational materials about Mahmud al-Kashgari and the historical journey of the work. The conference aimed to re-examine the importance of this monumental work and propose new initiatives for preserving this heritage for future generations.
