The long-debated question of changing the Uzbek alphabet has now been settled by law. The law, adopted on October 21 of this year, has been signed by the president. The new version of the Latin alphabet will consist of 28 letters and one apostrophe-like sign.

Which letters are changing?

• Sh will be written as Ş, and Ch as Ç.
• O‘ will be written as Ö, and G‘ as Ğ.
• Ng is removed from the alphabet as a separate letter.

The law enters into force on April 22, 2027, six months after adoption. Until then, documents, the national currency and securities containing the current letters remain valid.

What about existing signs?

Coats of arms and symbols of state bodies, embossed state emblems on buildings, and plaques with geographic names may remain in use until they wear out or until the deadline set in the implementation plan. The Cabinet of Ministers will set deadlines for other items.

What happens to textbooks and documents?

Linguists say there is no need to rush. Textbooks, posters and identity documents will be updated when their validity periods end. The government is preparing a resolution on transition mechanisms. Details on funding, public explanation campaigns and when primary school pupils will start learning the new alphabet will be announced once that resolution is issued. Officials stress that no one will be forced to switch.

Will there be confusion?

Experts note that only four letters are changing and that the new form simplifies writing. Some citizens will continue to use Cyrillic and the previous Latin version. How the transition period unfolds will therefore matter a great deal for educational institutions.

Source: Gazeta.uz