Abay and the Turkish World within the Framework of Ethnolinguistic Vital Theory

Abstract

Language is not only a means of communication but also one of the strongest carriers of cultural identity, historical memory and social belonging. The protection and survival of languages ​​is evaluated not only as a linguistic but also as a sociopolitical and cultural issue. The Ethnolinguistic Theory of Vitality considered in this context is a multidimensional theoretical approach that examines the frequency of use of a language in social life, its transmission between generations and its social functionality. The theory in question allows for the analysis of this multi-layered process by taking as basis “status, demographic structure and institutional support factors” that determine whether a language can continue its existence in a social context. In this study, within the framework of the Ethnolinguistic Theory of Vitality, the cultural and linguistic role of the Kazakh intellectual and thinker Abay Kunanbayev in the Turkic world is emphasized. Abay's poems, philosophical thoughts and understanding of education stand out as a fundamental source in keeping alive not only the Kazakh Turkish but also the common cultural memory and linguistic unity of the Turkic world. Abay considers language not only as a means of communication; He saw language as the carrier of social identity, historical memory and cultural continuity; he aimed to raise public awareness by associating it with moral values, education and intellectual transformation in his works. Abay's intellectual heritage has a strategic importance for the Turkic world, both historically and today, especially in terms of the formation of a common language awareness and cultural sustainability. Abay's works are not only a literary or philosophical richness; they are also evaluated as a strong reference point that ensures the continuity of language-based identity construction in the Turkic world. In this context, Abay's understanding of language and the place of his works in strengthening ethnolinguistic ties among Turkic communities constitute the main subject of this study.