Introducing Kazakh to Oxford: An Interview with Minister Sayasat Nurbek

This term, the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is pleased to welcome two academic visitors from the Akhmet Baitursunuly Institute of Linguistics, Dr Didar Sadyk and Dr Meruert Imangazina. Dr Sadyk and Dr Imangazina will be conducting research and developing a syllabus for the potential introduction of Kazakh language teaching at the University of Oxford. If successful, this would mark the first instance of a Kazakh language course being offered at a British university. This pioneering project was initiated following the visit of Mr Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan.

On 25th January 2024, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wolfson College and the Oxford Birsöz Initiative. This MoU supports the introduction of Kazakh language teaching at the University of Oxford and aligns with the establishment of a Central Asian and Turkic Studies Research Cluster at the university. The agreement paves the way for Kazakh scholars to spend an academic year in Oxford, fostering the study of Kazakh language, history, and culture. We spoke with the Kazakh Minister of Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, about this project and the importance of language teaching at the University of Oxford. This interview was conducted by Leyla Najafzada and an abridged transcript of the conversation is provided below.  


Leyla Najafzada: Thank you for joining us today. Could you tell us about the recent MoU with Wolfson College and Oxford Birsöz Initiative? How do you personally view this initiative? 

Minister: Thank you. Yes, I believe this is a very important project for Kazakhstan. As you know, UNESCO maintains an Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger, categorising languages based on their area of usage and the number of speakers. Unfortunately, Kazakh, while not endangered, is in a category where the number of speakers is not increasing as rapidly as we’d like. This places our language in a somewhat vulnerable position. 

Many languages disappear each year, simply because they no longer have speakers. For many years, the Kazakh language faced challenges because of our history in the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire before that. In the Soviet Union, there was a policy to create a unified "Soviet" identity, heavily based on the Russian language and culture. Many ethnic groups lost their languages in this process. 

My personal story reflects this. I grew up in a town called Semipalatinsk, now known as Semey, which was notorious for its nuclear testing site, often referred to as the "Nevada of the Soviet Union." There were only two Kazakh schools in my town, and my grandparents thought it was too dangerous for me to travel to them, so I attended a Russian school. This was the reality for many people. 

When Kazakhstan gained independence, the preservation and promotion of the Kazakh language became a priority for our government, and it remains so. My ministry, which oversees higher education, science, and language policy, has been deeply involved in these efforts. 

Our relationship with Oxford did not begin with this language programme. Four years ago, we partnered with Oxford University Press to develop the first Kazakh-English dictionary, which was completed this year. This was a significant achievement, as the dictionary was designed and developed with Oxford’s help. 

The story of the first Oxford English Dictionary is well known—compiled by James Murray, a Scottish professor, it was a monumental project that helped to codify and structure modern English. In a similar way, the work we are doing with Oxford is vital for the Kazakh language, which is part of the Turkic family of languages. Kazakh is one of the purest Turkic languages, having been less influenced by Arabic or Farsi compared to other Turkic languages like modern Turkish, which evolved under the influence of the Ottoman Empire. 

By teaching Kazakh at Oxford, we are not just promoting a local language; we are opening a window into the entire Turkic language family. This is important for Kazakhstan, and for the wider academic community, because Kazakh retains many of the original Turkic roots that have been lost in other languages. 

From this academic year, we will begin sending some of our best scholars to Oxford. These are not just language teachers; they are linguists and philologists who will teach both Kazakh language and linguistic studies. Their work will deepen understanding of Turkic languages, and we hope it will inspire further research into the history and evolution of these languages. 

Leyla Najafzada: That sounds like a fantastic opportunity. Could you tell us more about Kazakhstan’s plans to develop a Kazakh large language model, similar to what other countries are doing with AI? 

Minister: Yes, there is a growing global interest in developing large language models, like ChatGPT. Countries in the Arab world are developing their own models, and Kazakhstan is keen to join this movement. We are creating a consortium of research institutions, including Nazarbayev University and other leading universities, to develop a Kazakh GPT. We are investing in new supercomputers to train this language model, which will help to digitise and preserve the Kazakh language. 

Small languages like Kazakh face the risk of becoming endangered if they do not adapt to the digital world. Iceland, for example, has partnered with Google to build a digital version of the Icelandic language. We are looking at similar collaborations to ensure that Kazakh is preserved in the digital age. 

If we want our language to survive, it needs to be properly structured and embedded in the virtual and digital worlds. This is a crucial step because, unfortunately, fewer children today are reading books. Instead, they are consuming content on screens. So, it's vital that languages like Kazakh are present in this new digital environment. 

Leyla Najafzada: Oxford’s long history of linguistic scholarship is clearly a strong foundation for this partnership. How do you see the future of Kazakh language studies at Oxford? 

Minister: I believe this is just the beginning. The teaching of Kazakh at Oxford could lead to more in-depth research into the language's evolution and its influences. There is potential for numerous publications on how Kazakh has interacted with other languages and how it is changing in the modern world. 

The next step, I believe, is digitising the Kazakh language. With Oxford University Press and the success of the Kazakh-English dictionary, we have a strong platform to build on. Collaborating with Oxford on digitisation and language preservation would be a great service to Kazakhstan and to the world. The United Nations is already paying significant attention to the issue of language preservation, as we see a decline in linguistic diversity, much like biodiversity. 

Preserving languages is crucial because each language offers a unique way of understanding and describing the world. Unfortunately, the dominance of major languages like English is pushing out smaller languages. In Kazakhstan, for example, more students are opting to study in English, and universities are shutting down French departments, which has concerned diplomats. 

So, while this programme may seem small—just a few dozen Oxford students learning Kazakh—it is incredibly important for us. By teaching the language at such a prestigious institution, we ensure its survival and increase its global presence. The next stage, as I mentioned, will be taking this work into the digital realm. 

Leyla Najafzada: Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It's clear that the Kazakh language has a bright future with these initiatives, and I’m sure Oxford students will benefit greatly from this unique opportunity. 

Minister: Thank you. We look forward to expanding our partnership with Oxford and making further progress in promoting and preserving the Kazakh language.