CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VI (1) Contemporary-Eurasia-VI-1-engl | Page 117

NAREK MKRTCHYAN
Chambers shall be headed by their chairpersons who are elected by
the Senate and the Majilis from among the deputies who have a
perfect command of the state language” 35 . Thus, administrative
spheres of Kazakhstan are among the most influential areas reflected
by the kazakhization policies. Since the first years of independence, a
visible shift has been recorded in state apparatus regarding ethnic
composition: ethnic Kazakhs started to predominate in various
governmental and administrative institutions.
Due to some factors (growth rate, the return of ethnic Kazakhs, and
immigration of other nationalities), the use of Kazakh language is
growing in Kazakhstan. Indeed, under such conditions, Russian
language competence can be diminished. On the other hand, the public
use of Russian in social institutions created some obstacles for the
promotion of Kazakh language identity. The manifestation of the later
became evident especially during the emigration of ethnic Kazakhs
from Diaspora communities. The representatives of Kazakh Diaspora
communities in Mongolia and China have preserved their identity,
culture, and language better than Kazakhstan's Kazakhs 36 . Language is
among the most important markers of identity and belonging to a
nation. In Strategy Kazakhstan 2050 Nazarbayev conceptualized the
Kazakh language as a spiritual pivot of Kazak nation, which should be
developed by the active use of it in all areas of society 37 . One of the
efficient ways of the popularization of Kazakh language in different
spheres of the society is the incorporation of the state language
standards into inter-personal communications. The workplaces of
Kazakhstan are among the most critical areas for the strengthening the
position of Kazakh state language. However, the state-owned
language policies have been negatively affected by the use of Russian
language in workplaces. The problem became much more provocative
during repatriation to Kazakhstan. Furthermore, at first glance, it
35
Ibid.
Kuscu I., Ethnic Return Migration and Public Debate: The Case of Kazakhstan,
IOM, International Organization for Migration, 2005, pp. 8-9.
37
Official Site of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Events of
14.12.2012, Address by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Leader of
the Nation, N. Nazarbayev, Strategy “Kazakhstan-2050”: New Political Course
of the Established State, http://www.akorda.kz/en/addresses/addresses_of_ president
36
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