The Cyrillic Stalemate: Why Uzbekistan’s Alphabet Reform is Still Stuck 30 Years Later

Uzbekistan has struggled to fully transition from the Cyrillic to the Latin alphabet since declaring independence in 1991. Despite multiple legislative attempts and decades of reform efforts, the old Cyrillic script remains prevalent in various aspects of daily life. This article explores the challenges underlying the alphabet reform, including political, social, and economic factors that continue to favor the Cyrillic script.

The process began in 1993 with new spelling standards for Uzbek written in the Latin alphabet, and a phased implementation plan. Schools adopted the Latin alphabet, and official documents were gradually converted. However, the transition proved more difficult than anticipated. The initial deadline of 2000 was extended to 2005, and then to 2010, before being postponed to 2023. Despite this, Cyrillic remains entrenched in bureaucracy, media, and everyday life.

The Mirziyoyev administration, in power since 2016, has attempted to accelerate the transition. Key institutions like the State Language Development Department and the Uzbek Language Development Fund were established to standardize the use of the Latin alphabet in government agencies. Training programs for university faculty and staff have also been implemented, with participants ranging from young researchers to retired professors.

The resistance to the Latin alphabet reform is rooted in habits and technical infrastructure. Many older professors found it challenging to relearn the Cyrillic alphabet later in life, but recognized its importance for Uzbekistan. The reform is not just a top-down directive, but rather an internalization process. However, Cyrillic continues to dominate signs throughout the country and academic circles, with many government agency websites still offering a dual-alphabet option.

This suggests that the transition is a gradual process of internalization rather than a swift, top-down change.