Most Popular Uzbek Language Product Types

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Language Information

Uzbek is spoken in Uzbekistan, the most populous of the newly independent states of central Asia. There are about 16 million speakers here (about 70 percent of the population), with another 1½ million in neighboring Tajikistan, and smaller numbers in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Uzbek is one of the Turkic languages, which form a branch of the Altaic family. At the time of the Russian Revolution it was written in the Arabic script, but this was replaced by the Roman in 1927, and the Cyrillic in 1940.

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Aibek is the pseudonym of Musa Tashmukhamedov, whose historical novel Navoi was published in 1945. Its title is the name of a famous Uzbek poet and statesman of the 15th century.

Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

Family: Altaic
Subgroup: Turkic
Branch: Southestern(Chagatai)

Writing Sample

Translation

"Then let us try to prevent such dissension," said Navoi firmly. We must not show preference for any one religious doctrine. Brother, there is no pleasanter occupation in this world than just reading books, contemplating and writing verses. By nature I am cut out for just such a life. I should like to live in some quiet place and float lazily on the sea of enjoyment but, as you know, I have been given a court appointment. I accepted it for the sake of the people and the country. There is an endless number of things to be done in this land and the people have awaited each one of them for centuries."

—AIBEK, Navoi