Review of Rakhimov G.H. 2017.: Ingliz tili O'zbekistonda: Sociolingvistik va pragmatik kursatkichlar (The English language in Uzbekistan: Sociolinguistic and pragmatic aspects). Tashkent: TAMADDUN

Abstract

The review deals with the spread of the English language in the Turkic-speaking states of Eurasia (e.g. Uzbekistan) and is based on G.H. Rakhimov's monograph and the author's personal observations. The spread of English in the Turkic-speaking world is studied in comparison with the spread of the Russian language and culture in Central Asia (e.g. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan). The Turkic world of Eurasia is characterized by centuries-old traditions of bilingualism and multilingualism. Contacts with the Arabic, Persian, Russian languages and cultures influenced the development of local languages and cultures. In G.H. Rakhimov's monograph the spread of English in the spheres of social life (e.g. education, science, business, trade, diplomacy, etc.) is seen as a positive phenomenon with favourable effects on the further realization of the country's potential in the international community. An ethnic language is a constant category in the past, present and future; therefore the influences of other languages and cultures have to be regulated by the government, because language and culture contact has both positive and negative effects, which have been proved by the history of human development. The English language in the Turkic world of Eurasia (e.g. Uzbekistan) as well as the Russian language might have a positive tendency for contacts with the local language. The Uzbek and Kazakh languages and cultures are formed within the status of constant categories characterized by positive dynamics of their development.