Despite the fact that the ethnonym “Kyrgyz” is one of the most ancient known to mankind, in recent centuries its use in the Russian language (exoethnonym) has had a very peculiar history, and the discussion continues to this day.
I suggest that you familiarize yourself with a very interesting and important correspondence on this topic between the leaders of our republic Abdykadyr Orozbekov and Bayaly Isakeev with Moscow. The documents were obtained from the GARF – the State Archives of the Russian Federation.
Part One sets out the essence of the correspondence, the fate of the participants and the issue itself. I suggest that readers first familiarize themselves with the first part, this is the link: PART ONE. The text of the first part is quite long, but it is still worth reading to the end if you are interested in this topic.
Below are photocopies of documents and their texts with archival details.
PART 2
1. GARF F. R. 3316. OP. 29. D. 573. L. 9
Petition of the Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Kirghiz ASSR A. Urazbekov (A. Orozbekov) to the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR on the issue of using the ethnonym “Kyrgyz” instead of “Kirghiz”
From October 27, 1936
On the letterhead of the
Central Executive Committee of the Soviets of Workers’, Peasants’ and Red Army Deputies
No. 3468/c October 27, 1936 şaar Frunze
Frunze city
Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR
Moscow city
Before the revolution, many Kirghiz words in translation into Russian were distorted both in spelling and pronunciation. Such distortions in Russian pronunciation include the word “qьrqьƶ”, which is pronounced and written in Russian as “Kyrgyz”, which not only does not correspond to the Kyrgyz pronunciation, but coincides with the Kyrgyz obscene verb.
In Turkological literature, the name “Kyrgyz” is usually accompanied by an explanation (correctly “Kyrgyz”).
The spelling “Kyrgyz” is used in Russian specialized literature and is recognized as correct, but the accepted mass spelling “Kyrgyz” runs counter to this.
The question of replacing the form “Kyrgyz” with the form “Kyrgyz” in literature and in official documents has been repeatedly raised, in particular by Academician A.N. Samoylovich.
At present, as can be seen from the resolution of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, the distorted transmissions in Russian are being corrected and brought into line with local national names, such as “Tbilisi” instead of “Tiflis”, “Batumi” instead of “Batum”, etc. Considering that the Russian language allows for the correct spelling of “Kyrgyz”, the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the Kir. ASSR considers it necessary to further transmit the word “qьrqьƶ” through the Russian “Kyrgyz”, preserving this spelling in all derivative words: Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz, etc. Due to this, and also in view of the upcoming adoption of the new constitution of the USSR, the Central Executive Committee of the Kir. ASSR asks the Central Executive Committee of the USSR to issue a special resolution of the Presidium on the transfer of the word “qьrqьƶ” through the Russian “Kyrgyz”, consistently implementing this spelling in all derivative words.
Chairman of the Central
Executive Committee
of the Kirghiz ASSR A. Urazbekov (Signature)
RESOLUTION (at the top of the document):
To urgently request the conclusion of the USSR Academy of Sciences on this submission of the Central Executive Committee of the Kirghiz ASSR. 10.XI-36 A. Khatskevich
2. GARF F. R3316. OP. 29. D.573.L.1
Covering note Head of the Secretariat of the Department of Social Sciences of the USSR Academy of Sciences Kulvarskaya to the Secretary of the Council of Nationalities A.I. Khatskevich to the letter of A. Orozbekov
From November 1, 1936
«1»/XI 1936
No. 55-56
To the Secretary of the Council of Nationalities of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR
Comrade KHATSKEVICH A.I.
In accordance with your request, the Kirghiz ASSR’s letter of 27/XI*-36, No. 3468y**, on the issue of replacing the word “Kirghiz” with the word “Kyrgyz”, is forwarded to you.
Head of the UN Secretariat signature /Kulvarskaya/
*error letter dated X month and not XI month.
**should be “c” and not “u”
3. GARF F. R3316. OP. 29. D.573.L.2
Note from the deputy head. Secretariat of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR to the Academy of Sciences of the USSR with a request to provide an opinion on the issue of replacing the form “Kirghiz” with the form “Kyrgyz”
From November 10, 1936
“10” XI.1936 No. SP 522/3
Urgent
TO THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE USSR.
On November 10, on the instructions of the Secretary of the Council of Nationalities of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, Comrade Khatskevich, the Secretariat of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR asks the Academy of Sciences of the USSR to provide its opinion on the issue raised by the Central Executive Committee of the Kirghiz ASSR about replacing the word “Kirghiz” with the form “Kyrgyz”.
Send your opinion to the Council of Nationalities of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR by November 13, 1936.
APPENDIX: Attitude of the Central Executive Committee of the Kir ASSR in 1 copy.
Deputy. Head. Secretariat – signature (P. Libakh)
Seal: remind 13.XI. 1936
4. GARF F. R3316. OP.29. D.573.L.4
Telephone message from P. Libakh to the USSR Academy of Sciences with a request to expedite the decision on the issue of replacing the word “Kirghiz” with the word “Kyrgyz”
17 November 1936
Telephone message
USSR Academy of Sciences
The Secretariat of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR requests to expedite the submission of the Academy of Sciences’ conclusion on the issue raised by the Central Executive Committee of the Kirghiz ASSR on replacing the word “Kirghiz” with the word “Kyrgyz”.
Deputy Head of the Secretariat – signature (P. Libakh)
17 November 1936
5. GARF F. R3316, OP. 29. D. 573. L.6-7
Covering letter from Academician-Secretary of the Department of Social Sciences of the USSR Academy of Sciences A.M. Deborin to the Council of Nationalities of the USSR Central Executive Committee A.I. Khatskevich to the Conclusion on the issue of replacing the form “Kirghiz” with the form “Kyrgyz”
November 22, 1936
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS
Academician Secretary of the Department of Social Sciences
—————————————————————————————————-
22.XI.1936 No. 52-53
COPY
To the Secretary of the Council of Nationalities of the USSR Central Executive Committee
comrade Khatskevich A.I.
In accordance with your attitude, I am forwarding to you the conclusion of the Central Asian Cabinet of the Institute of Oriental Studies on the issue raised by the Central Executive Committee of the Kirghiz ASSR about replacing the form “Kirghiz” with the form “Kyrgyz”.
Academician-Secretary of the Department of General Sciences of the Academy of Sciences (A.M. Deborin)
Correct: Signature is illegible
Conclusion on the issue of replacing the form “Kyrgyz” with the form “Kyrgyz” of the Central Asian Cabinet of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences to the Council of Nationalities of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR A.I. Khatskevich
Copy
In European literature and in Russian literature before the October Revolution, there was an extremely vague usage of words regarding the names of the Kazakhs and Kirghiz.
The Kazakhs were called “Kirghiz-Cossacks”, “Kirghiz-Kaisaks” or “Kazak-Kirghiz”, the Altaians, in turn, called them “Kirghiz”, the Kirghiz were called “Kara-Kirghiz”, “black Kirghiz” or “wild-stone Kirghiz”, according to their name by the Kazakhs – “Kara-Kirghiz”.
The Kirghiz are already known in the most ancient Chinese chronicles, where they are called ki-lu-ki-tzy or bu-lu-te, the latter is preserved in the name of the Kirghiz Oirats, who call them “Burut”, etc.
In the most ancient monuments of the Turkic script, the Kirghiz are considered to live in the north, where the Sagai tribe of the Kyrgyz is still present, which is considered to be the remnants of the ancient Kirghiz who lived in the Abakan Valley and in the Sayan Mountains.
The Kirghiz are the only Turkic people who have preserved the name “Kyrgyz”. Some scientists derive the word “Kyrgyz” from kyrgu-dzhuz “red face”, others, like Ligeti, trace it back to the numeral kyrk “forty”, but these etymologies cannot be considered definitive. The folk etymology of the word “kyrk-kyz” “forty girls” is also accidental, associated with a legendary tradition. The proposed national name “Kyrgyz” is closer to the real pronunciation and in Russian and Western European scientific transcription it is always transmitted in this form; unlike the usual orthography, where the spelling and pronunciation “Kyrgyz” has traditionally been established. From the point of view of Russian phonetics, both pronunciations are indifferent, but it would be more correct to accept the currently proposed pronunciation in Russian writing.
Scientific Secretary of the Middle Asian Cabinet Borovkov
Correct: Signature is illegible
At the top of the sheet it is written in red pencil:
Tal
Stavsky
Tulepov
6. GARF F.R3316. OP.29.D.573.L.8
Appeal of the Secretary of the Council of Nationalities A. Khatskevich to the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee with a request to include in the agenda of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR the issue of changing the name of the Kirghiz people
December 2, 1936
On the letterhead of the Council of Nationalities
COUNCIL OF NATIONALITIES OF THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE USSR
December 2, 1936
No. SN-522/3
Not subject to disclosure
To the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR
Sending the petition of the Central Executive Committee of the Kirghiz ASSR to establish the correct name of the Kirghiz people and the conclusion of the Central Asian Institute of Oriental Studies on the merits of the said petition on this issue, the draft resolution of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR and in view of the urgency, I ask that it be included in the agenda of the next regular Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR.
Secretary of the Council of Nationalities of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR – signature (A. Khatskevich)
7. GARF F.R3316. OP.29.D.573.L.14
Draft resolution of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR on replacing the word “Kirghiz” with “Kyrgyz”, proposed by the Secretary of the Council of Nationalities A. Khatskevich
December 2, 1936
Draft
HEARDED:
Petition of the Central Executive Committee of the Kirghiz ASSR to establish the correct spelling of the name of the Kirghiz people
(Ext. T. Khatskevich)
“ “ December 1936
RESOLVED:
In view of the fact that the pronunciation and spelling of the word “Kirghiz” is incorrect, satisfy the petition of the Central Executive Committee of the Kirghiz ASSR to establish the exact spelling of the name of the Kirghiz people and replace the existing transcription “Kirghiz” with the transcription “Kyrgyz”.
Signature A. Khatskevich
2/XII 1936
8. GARF F.R3316. OP.29.D.573.L.13
Request from the Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR I. Akulov to Comrade Deborin to provide an exhaustive conclusion on the issue of replacing the name of the people “Kirghiz” with the name “Kyrgyz”
December 26, 1936
copy
To the Academy of Sciences of the USSR – Comrade Deborin
Returning the conclusion sent to us by the Central Asian Cabinet of the Institute of Oriental Studies on the issue of replacing the spelling of the name of the people of the Kirghiz SSR “Kyrgyz” instead of the currently valid name “Kirghiz”, I ask that you send to the Central Executive Committee of the USSR an exhaustive conclusion of the Academy of Sciences on this issue.
Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR I. Akulov
Correct: signature illegible
26/XII
December 26, 1936
file No. SN-522/3
9. GARF F.R3316. OP.29.D.573.L.10-11.
Conclusion of the Department of Social Sciences of the USSR Academy of Sciences signed by Academician-Secretary A.N. Deborin on the correctness of replacing the name of the Kirghiz people with the form “Kyrgyz” at the request of the Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR I. Akulov
February 21, 1937
On the letterhead of the USSR Academy of Sciences
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
——————————————————————————-
“21” II 1937
No. 52/14
To the Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR
comrade I. Akulov
In response to your request to replace the name of the Kirghiz people with the form “Kyrgyz”, we inform you that we consider this replacement correct from the point of view of the Kyrgyz language and acceptable from the point of view of Russian.
As has happened in recent times, the renaming of the names of the capitals of the Armenian and Georgian SSRs brought the spelling of these names in Russian closer to the folk and historical pronunciation of Armenians and Georgians, and the change of the name of the people “Kyrgyz” in Russian by introducing the letter “ы” instead of the letter “и” in both syllables “Kyrgyz” instead of “Kyrgyz” will bring the spelling of this name in Russian closer to the authentic folk Kyrgyz pronunciation. The correctness of the spelling “Kyrgyz” instead of “Kyrgyz” from the point of view of the Kyrgyz language is confirmed not only by modern folk Kyrgyz pronunciation, but also by historical monuments, starting from the 8th century AD. In the inscriptions published by the Academy of Sciences in the ancient Turkic language, carved in the 8th century with the so-called Orkhon alphabet, or Turkic runes on stones that have survived to this day on the territory of the Mongolian People’s Republic, there is a mention of the ancestors of the modern Kyrgyz, and the name of these ancestors is depicted in the aforementioned inscriptions of the 8th century in the form “kyrkyz”, i.e. with the designation in both syllables of the back vowel “y”, and not the front vowel “i”. Thus, in the inscription in memory of Kultegin of the 8th century, when listing the peoples, among other peoples: Chinese, Tibetans and others, the people 1/ “kyrkyz” is mentioned. For the Russian language, replacing the form “Kyrgyz” with the form “Kyrgyz” does not present any difficulties either in terms of pronunciation or spelling. In the Russian language, along with the generally accepted form “Kirghiz” since the 18th century, there are, in certain Ural and Siberian dialects, the forms “Kirghiz” and “Kyrgyz”, of which the latter completely coincides with the Kyrgyz pronunciation of this word.
The latter form – “Kyrgyz” with the adjective “Kyrgyz” should, in our opinion, be adopted for the Russian language and thereby eliminate the unnecessary distortion in the spelling and pronunciation of the name of one of the fraternal peoples of the USSR – the Kyrgyz people, which is not caused by the peculiarities of the Russian language.
==============================
1/ P.M. Melioransky. Monument in honor of Kultegin. SPb., 1899, p. 65.
Academician-Secretary
UN Academy of Sciences: – signature A.M.Deborin
On the margins of p. 10 seal:
… USSR File Listed
For Comrade Popovskaya
Signature:
10. GARF F.R3316. OP.29.D.573.L.16
Reference on sending the conclusion of the Academy of Sciences to the Kremlin and possible early resolution of the issue
February 28, 1937
REFERENCE
Comrade Khatuntsev reported that this issue will be raised with the Presidium upon receiving the conclusion of the Academy of Sciences.
This conclusion was sent to the Kremlin yesterday, so the issue will be resolved in the next few days
28.II-37
11. GARF F.R3316. Op.64. D.1882 L.6-7
Letter from the Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR I.A. Akulov to I. Stalin on the request of the Central Executive Committee of the Kirghiz SSR to replace the name of the Kirghiz people with the form “Kyrgyz”
March 9, 1937
<Copy>
Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks)
Comrade Stalin I.V.
The Central Executive Committee of the Kirghiz SSR addressed the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR with a request to replace the name of the Kirghiz people with the form “Kyrgyz”.
The justification for this was that the spelling in Russian does not correspond to the popular pronunciation.
We requested a consultation with the USSR Academy of Sciences on this issue. Since its first response was not authoritative enough, we again asked for a fully competent and comprehensive opinion from the Academy of Sciences on this issue.
We have now received a conclusion that reasonably supports the need for a replacement.
Based on this, the party group of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR considers it necessary to satisfy the request of the Central Executive Committee of the Kirghiz SSR and henceforth establish in the Russian language the spelling “Kyrgyz” instead of “Kirghiz”.
Appendix:
- Letter of the Central Executive Committee of the Kirghiz SSR.
- Letter of the UN of the USSR Academy of Sciences and the Scientific Secretary of the Central Asian Cabinet of the USSR Academy of Sciences.
- Draft resolution.
p/p_____________
(I. Akulov)
Correct: [Signature]
“9” March 1937
No. KC-14/SS.
ta-2.
At the top of the text there is an inscription:
To the archive [Signature] 25/VI 37
DRAFT
On replacing the incorrect name of the people “Kirghiz” with the name “Kyrgyz”
Approve the following draft resolution of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR:
Satisfy the petitions of the Supreme Executive Committee of the Kirghiz SSR on replacing the incorrect name of the people “Kirghiz” with the name “Kyrgyz”
ta-2
12. GARF F.R3316. OP.29.D.573.L.15
Telegram of the Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Kirghiz SSR B. Isakeev, head of the agricultural department of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), 1st deputy chairman. Party Control Committee of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) Yakovlev
March 13, 1937
At 11:45
Seals:
… Secret Mail
MARCH 13, 1937
NOT SUBJECT TO DISCLOSURE
Signature Fedolov No. 30 Wire No. 1/37 A-ATA
SERIES G MOSCOW
FRUNZE KIR 044 37
13/3 11 12
SERIES G MOSCOW Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) YAKOVLEV
I ASK TO AUTHORIZE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE RUSSIAN TEXT OF OUR CONSTITUTION THE CORRECT KIRGHIZ NAME INSTEAD OF THE WORD KIRGHIZ WRITE KYRGYZ STOP TO THIS QUESTION OF OUR PETITION AND OTHER SUPPORTED MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE CEC CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION OF THE KYR SSR ISAKEEV
Resolution: Akulov
13. GARF F.R3316. OP.29.D.573.L.21-21OB
Telegram from the Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Kirghiz SSR B. Isakeev to the Chairman of the Councilnationalities I.P. Khatskevich
March 13, 1937
B 11 40 No. 12-20
Signature
Fedolov No. 29 Wire No. 1/37A-ATA
MOSCOW FRUNZE
KIR 043 29 13/3
11 11
SERIES G MOSCOW CEC USSR
SOVNATS KHATSKEVICH
I ASK TO SPEED UP THE APPROVAL OF THE CORRECT DRAWING OF THE KYRGYZ NAME INSTEAD OF KYRGYZ WRITE KYRGYZ ACCELERATION IS NECESSARY TO ENTER THE TEXT OF OUR CONSTITUTION = CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION KIR SSR ISAKEYEV
On the back RESOLUTION:
The conclusion of the Academy of Sciences has been received and 27/II-t/sh sent to the Kremlin 13/III
14. GARF F.R3316. OP.29.D.573.L.5
Записка А. Хацкевича Исакееву рукописная (черновик телеграммы?) о рассмотрении вопроса о замене названия с заключением Академией наук
13 марта 1937 г.
Рукописный текст
ФРУНЗЕ
Предсовнаркома Киргизской ССР ИСАКЕЕВУ
Вопрос утверждения правильного начертания киргизского названия заключением Академии Наук будет рассмотрен ближайшие дни результаты сообщим телеграфно
АХ
Хацкевич
15. GARF F.R3316. OP.29.D.573.L.22
Note from A. Khatskevich to Isakeev printed (text of telegram?) on consideration of the issue of changing the name with the conclusion of the Academy of Sciences
FRUNZE
CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’S COMMITTEES OF THE KIRGHIZ SSR ISAKEYEV
THE QUESTION OF APPROVING THE CORRECT DRAWING OF THE KIRGHIZ NAME BY THE CONCLUSION OF THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THE NEXT DAYS PERIOD WE WILL REPORT THE RESULTS ADDITIONALLY
KHATSKEVICH
13/III-37 Correct:
16. GARF F.R3316. OP.29.D.573.L.23
Covering note from I. Polovinkin to the Central Executive Committee of the USSR I. Akulov
March 17, 193
On the letterhead of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks Central Committee of the Agricultural Department
100I “17” March 1937
Central Executive Committee of the USSR – to comrade AKULOV
By order of comrade Yakovlev, I am sending you a telegram from comrade Isakeev
Assistant Head of the Agricultural Department of the Central Committee signature (Polovinkin)
17. GARF F.R3316. OP.29.D.573.L.24
Telegram of I. Akulov to B. Isakeev in response to Isakeev’s telegram
March 23, 1937
Seal:
CEC USSR REFERENCE
SIGNIFICANT FOR SOVNATS
SIGNATURE
III/23/1937
URGENT
FRUNZE
SNK ISAKEYEV
I am answering your telegram to Yakovlev dtch The question of the name Kirghiz is pending resolution. We cannot sanction it period AKULOV
Signature I. Akulov
To archive III/23-37
Signature To file
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