Struggling Existence of the UNESCO-Listed 'Laz' Language in Turkey
In the biodiversity-rich Caucasus region, the Laz language holds deep cultural ties that reflect its rich history. Each November, this connection is celebrated during "Laz Language Day," an event featuring music, oral histories, and traditional foodways.
However, the use of Laz has been on a decline since the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Economic changes, such as the introduction of tea cultivation, deepened dependence on state institutions where Turkish was the dominant language. Roads linking remote villages to urban centres facilitated migration and daily interaction with non-Laz speakers, leading many families to stop transmitting Laz to their children.
Despite these challenges, efforts to preserve and revitalize the Laz language have gained momentum since the 1990s. Laz activists and scholars, through the Lazika Publishing Collective, have published bilingual Turkish-Laz books and literature in native dialects. In 2013, Laz gained official recognition as an elective course under Turkey’s “Living Languages and Dialects” program, although enrollment remains low.
Media and technology have become key tools in revitalization. Laz-language YouTube channels, children's puppet shows, and online courses attract thousands of viewers. These platforms not only promote the language but also celebrate Laz culture through music, oral histories, and traditional foodways.
UNESCO classifies Laz as "definitely endangered," indicating the urgency of these efforts. In 2008, UNESCO updated its "Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger," listing Laz as a definitely endangered language spoken in Turkey.
Researchers warn that plant names and the knowledge they represent may disappear faster than the language itself as traditional agricultural life fades. A Laz proverb, "Nananena var goindinen"-The mother tongue must not be lost, encapsulates the importance of preserving this language.
It's important to note that revitalization is largely driven by civil society, language activists, and educational initiatives rather than state policy. While Laz gained official recognition as an elective course, large-scale media campaigns or institutional government programs beyond this elective course have not been significant.
Preserving Laz is not just about safeguarding cultural identity, but also about contributing to global linguistic diversity. As a South Caucasian language primarily spoken in Turkey's Black Sea provinces of Rize and Artvin, with smaller communities in the Marmara region, Georgia, and diaspora, Laz is part of both a linguistic and ecological hotspot.
With optimism that revitalization can succeed if younger generations engage with the language in daily life, these efforts continue to push for broader recognition and use of Laz to ensure its survival for future generations.
- In Turkey, the Laz language, deeply rooted in cultural ties, is celebrated annually during "Laz Language Day."
- The Laz language has faced a decline since the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923, due to economic changes and urban migration.
- Efforts to revitalize the Laz language have grown since the 1990s, with the Lazika Publishing Collective publishing bilingual books and literature.
- Media and technology, such as Laz-language YouTube channels and online courses, are key tools in the revitalization of the Laz language.
- UNESCO classifies Laz as "definitely endangered," highlighting the importance of preserving the language and its associated knowledge.
- Researchers worry that traditional plant names and agricultural knowledge may disappear faster than the Laz language itself.
- Preserving the Laz language is crucial not just for cultural identity, but also for contributing to global linguistic diversity.
- The success of revitalizing the Laz language depends on younger generations interacting with it daily and broader recognition of its use for its survival.
