KChR 03/11/2019 18:50 29941

From October 27 to November 1, the fourth festival of the Abaza language and literature was held in the KChR, culminating in the traditional “Tabulov readings” conference.

Said Bargandzhia

The scientific and practical conference “Tabulov readings” completed the fourth festival of the Abaza language and literature, which was held in Karachay-Cherkessia from October 27 to November 1.

Professor and linguist, Vice-Rector for scientific research at the KChU Sergey Pazov said that the reading program included reports and messages from young and experienced scientists, practical teachers, specialists of the Ministry of Education and Science of the KChR, departments of education and culture of the municipal regions of the Republic, undergraduates, graduate students  of the KChU, as well as researchers and students from Abkhazia and Stavropol.

The readings took place in the format of a plenary session and works of several sections. These are the Abaza and Abkhaz languages, their current state and problems of study; Kabardino-Circassian language, its literature and folklore; Abaza and Abkhaz literature and folklore; questions of theory and methods of study and interdisciplinary research, theory and practice of studying the native language and literature. The plenary session was held in Russian, and reports and sections were first presented in the Abaza, Abkhaz and Kabardino-Circassian languages, which was another step in the preservation and development of native languages.

The conference also discussed specific measures, as well as achievements in this area.

“In Karachay-Cherkessia, the need for launching of literary and art journals, where poets, writers, and representatives of other creative groups could be published, has long been overdue. This problem has long been raised by the national unions of writers of the KChR. This year, the leadership of the U.D. Aliyev Karachay-Cherkess State University decided to establish four literary, artistic and scientific-educational journals in the languages ​​of the indigenous peoples of the KChR,” Sergey Pazov said and added that the KChU Rector Tausoltan Uzdenov has already presented the first issues of the journals in national languages ​​to the participants at the “Tabulov readings - 2019”.  These are the publications “Abazashta adzykhkva” (“Springs of Abazashta” in the Abaza language - ed.) and “Haku” (“Fatherland” in the Kabardino-Circassian language - ed.). It is planned to issue journals twice a year, the linguist added.

He also recalled that the 2019 conference was different from previous ones since it was held with grant support from the Presidential Grants Foundation for the Development of Civil Society. In addition, a delegation of scientists and students of the Abkhaz State University and the Academy of Sciences of Abkhazia actively participated in this year's conference.

“The experience of holding annual “Tabulov readings” shows that they are recognized by the pedagogical community as an important element in the preservation and development of the Abaza language, literature, and culture,” concluded Sergey Pazov.

The festival of Abaza language and literature in the KChR is annually held by the “Alashara” International Association together with the Karachay-Cherkess State University, the Ministry of Education and Science of the KChR and the administration of the Abaza municipal district. The festival from the very beginning of its creation in 2014 included several events: an essay competition among students of secondary schools and colleges of Karachay-Cherkessia in the Abaza language, a competition of readers, an Olympiad in the Abaza language and Abaza literature.  The Festival traditionally ends with “Tabul readings”, where the results of the competitions are summed up, and an awarding ceremony is held for students - winners of the competitions, as well as teachers who prepared them.