Daik-Press Publishers and Institute of Oriental Studies of Kazakhstan
have published:

Mahmud al-Kashgari, Diwan Lugat at-Turk ("Turkic Lexicon"), translated
with Introduction by Zifa-Alua Auezova and Index by Robert Ermers,
Almaty "Daik-Press" 2005. ISBN 9965-699-74-7.

Diwan Lughat at-Turk composed by a Turkic scholar Mahmud al-Kashghari
in the XI c. is one of the most remarkable sources of knowledge
related to history of Central Asian civilizations. In extensive
academic discussions of 1960-80s it was referred to primarily as an
oldest lexicographical source. However, recent developments in
societies identifying themselves with Turkic culture put forward a
quest for tracing up the "roots" of Turks in a wider context. Diwan
contains much interesting information and concepts that might be
helpful in understanding some aspects of self-identification and
culture of Turkic tribes in a broader sense.

Diwan was conceived as a book demonstrating richness and versatility
of language and culture of Turkic tribes, whose military triumph in
the X-XI cc. led to concentration of considerable political power by
Turks within the borders of Islamic world. For Turks this was the
early period of their identification with Islam. Judging by the
contents of Diwan and its dedication to Abbasid khalif al-Muqtadi
particularly, through his book Mahmud al-Kashghari intended to
introduce Turks and their culture to the "Islamic World".

Following the example of Arabs, who considered their language, the
language of Qur'an, to be most valuable element of their culture,
al-Kashghari chose the language of Turks as means for introduction
their culture and values to those who had not been familiar with them.

Being the earliest known Turkic book written in Arabic, Diwan Lughat
at-Turk was composed as a Turkic-Arabic lexicon, where Turkic words
were presented in Arabic transliteration and provided with translation
and comments on etymology, contexts and various possibilities of their use.

In the eyes of the author "Turkic dialects keep pace with Arabic like
two horses in a race": in order to prove that the language and poetry
of Turks was not inferior to those of Arabs, Mahmud al-Kashghari
generously quotes proverbs and fragments of ancient Turkic verses in
various genres, which had been familiar to Islamic readers from Arab
literature.

Present edition contains the first complete translation of Diwan
Lughat at-Turk into the Russian, made by Zifa-Alua Auezova from its
original in Arabic, introductory chapter dedicated to various aspects
of al-Kashghari's perception of Turkic culture on the early stage of
its islamization, and index of Turkic words compiled by Robert Ermers.

The translation was based on the facsimile edition of the manuscript
of Diwan Lugat at-Turk, published by the Ministry of Culture of Turkey in 1990.

For orders and more information, please write to Bolat Kazgulov,
Daik-Press Publishers, 050010 Almaty, 29 Kurmangazy str., or e-mail:
DaikSof@mail.ru, or call at:7)3272613275 and 7)3272612835.

On September 15, 2006 Educational Center Bilim-Central Asia, National
Library of Kazakhstan and Mukhtar Auezov Museum are holding the
presentation of this book. Presentation will take place at 11am in the
Museum of Mukhtar Auezov in Almaty, 185 Tulebayev str. (corner of
Kurmangazy str.).