Nagaybak Alphabet as a Step Towards Preserving the Identity of an Orthodox Turkic Ethnos

This paper examines the issues surrounding the creation of an alphabet for the Nagaybak language, which is currently on the brink of extinction. It notes that the Nagaybak ethnos represents one of Russia's unwritten and endangered peoples. The authors express concern regarding the prospects of assimilation faced by the Nagaybaks into either the dominant Russian nation or neighboring Turkic-speaking communities. The relevance of this work stems from the fact that the absence of a native writing system poses a significant threat to the preservation of the Nagaybak ethnic identity. This article presents the results of a decade-long effort by a research collective, culminating in the development of a 31-letter Nagaybak alphabet designed to accurately reflect the phonological system of the language. Attention is given to the principles underlying the structural organization of the proposed script. It is reported that implementation of Nagaybak language instruction in schools commenced in 2025. Our analysis demonstrates that while the Nagaybak language belongs to the Turkic language family, it possesses unique characteristics that distinguish it from Tatar and other related languages. Furthermore, our findings establish that pedagogical methods oriented towards oral proficiency acquisition are the most effective within the context of limited language use. Consequently, we conclude that the developed Nagaybak alphabet and methodological resources will serve to strengthen the language's position among youth and preserve the cultural heritage of the Nagaybaks in the face of globalization.

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