BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 14. In honor of the 950th anniversary of Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk, a valuable treasure of the Turkic World and global cultural heritage, and its inclusion in UNESCO’s list of anniversaries to be celebrated in 2024–2025, an international conference titled “Mapping the World in Lexicography: The 950th Anniversary of Dīwān Lughāt alTurk” was organized by the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation on December 13, 2024, at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France,TurkicWorld reports.
The conference aimed to re-examine the significance of this monumental work, created by Mahmud al-Kashgari in the 11th century, to highlight its relevance in the modern era, and to propose new initiatives for preserving this heritage for future generations. In her opening remarks, Mrs. Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, emphasized the great importance of commemorating the 950th anniversary of Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk within UNESCO’s framework in 2024–2025.
She highlighted the historical significance of this masterpiece and its role in fostering intercultural dialogue today. Raimkulova described the work, compiled by the great scholar Mahmud al-Kashgari in the 11th century, as not merely a dictionary but a compendium of the richness of Turkic languages, the wisdom of Turkic traditions, and the vibrancy of Turkic culture. She stressed that celebrating the 950th anniversary of Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk is not just a commemorative event but a call to intensify efforts to preserve Turkic intangible heritage in an era of rapid globalization.
Mr. Firmin Edouard Matoko, UNESCO Assistant DirectorGeneral for Priority Africa and External Relations warmly welcomed the participants at the conference dedicated to the 950th anniversary of Divanü Lüğat-it-Türk. He emphasized that this work holds significance not only for the Turkic world but also for global cultural heritage. He referred to Divanü Lüğat-it-Türk as an encyclopedia showcasing the history and richness of Turkic peoples.
The conference brought together ambassadors of Turkic states accredited in France, Secretaries-General of National Commissions for UNESCO and Permanent Representatives of Turkic countries to UNESCO, as well as prominent scholars from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Hungary, and other countries. Representatives of UNESCO and other international organizations, as well as esteemed intellectuals of the Turkic World, also participated in the event and delivered presentations.
Additionally, during the event, a specially crafted replica of the original Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk manuscript, preserved at the Ali Emiri Efendi Library in Istanbul, was displayed alongside roll ups showcasing the historical journey of the work and information about Mahmud al-Kashgari. The 42nd General Conference of UNESCO included the 950th anniversary of Diwan Lughat al-Turk (Compendium of the Turkic dialects and languages) written by the lexicographer and philologist Mahmud Kashgari (1074) in the List of Anniversaries with which UNESCO is associated in 2024-2025 based on the joint proposal by Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with the support of Hungary, Mauritania, Morocco, Qatar and Tajikistan. The conference was held with the support of the national commissions and permanent delegations of Turkic states to UNESCO. Contact persons: Project Manager: L
Mapping the World in Lexicography: On the 950th Anniversary of Diwan Lughat al-Turk
