A Focus on Formal Writing Style Standards

Qudrat Sh. Omonov

, Gulchehra Sh. Rixsiyeva

, Nadira T. Xalmurzayeva

Saodat A. Nasirova

, Saboxat A. Xashimova

and Xulkar V. Mirzaxmedova

Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Confucius Institute, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Keywords: Letter, Formal Writing Style, Turkic-Uigur, Moniy, Dorbanjin, Khoqon, Makhmud Qashgariy, “Devonu

Lugatit Turk”, Official Text.

Abstract: This article is devoted to the study of official documents from ancient and medieval times written in different

writing systems, mainly in the Blue Turkic script. In the next stages of development, opinions were presented

and scientifically proven that the documents were written in Turkic-Uyghur, Moni, Dorbanjin and Arabic

alphabets. During the study of historical documents, theoretical opinions were given regarding the fact that

the materials of our ancestors written in blue Turkish script are the basis for drawing scientific conclusions

about the status of the state language and script in the history of statehood.

1 INTRODUCTION

The official texts left from early, and the Middle Ages

were inscribed in different systems of writings.

According to Ishoqov, Sodiqov, Omonov (2009) The

impressive part of the document was inscribed in two

stages (the most ancient and the period of Turkic

khoqons) of development of Turkic official style was

mainly in Kok Turkic writing, in the next rising stages

the documents were inscribed in Turkic-Uyghur,

Moniy, Dorbanjin and in Arab alphabet. Choosing the

writing language for the texts belongs to the official

style related to the period in which the text was

inscribed, the language, the writing language

condition, and the legal position of the letter. For

example, in the period of the first and the fourth

Turkic khoqons the main writing language of the state

was the Kok Turkic alphabet, which proves the texts

on inscription stone were erected by the order of the

sultanate khoqons. In the next periods, Turkic-

Uyghur and Arab alphabets were raised to the state

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level, it is possible to know about it from the writings

on the state documents, coins, and seals.

2 RESULTS

The official texts that were found in the Central Asia

region show that in ancient sultanates the documents

belonged to the state ruling were written in Kok

Turkic writing. For example, in the II century B.C.,

the notes in ancient Chinese chronicles informed us

that official correspondence sent from ancient Turkic

states to the Chinese was in the native writing

language of Turkic nations.

There are enough shreds of evidence from

historical sources which prove that Turkic khoqons

correspondences to the neighbouring nations were in

Kok Turkic writing. A Byzantine historian and

diplomat Menander in 568 gave information about the

reception of envoys who came to the king of

Constantinople Justin II from khoqon Istami, the

letter they brought was registered as “Scythian

322

Omonov, Q., Rixsiyeva, G., Xalmurzayeva, N., Nasirova, S., Xashimova, S. and Mirzaxmedova, X.

A Focus on Formal Writing Style Standards.

DOI: 10.5220/0012842400003882

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 2nd Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR-2 2023), pages 322-326

ISBN: 978-989-758-723-8

writing”. If we take into consideration that in

Byzantine chronicles, Scythian ethnic names towards

Turkic nations, along with this under the term

“Scythian writing” was meant the ancient writing of

Turkic nations – Kok Turkic alphabet.

Generally, based on the inscribed relics of our

ancestors written in Kok Turkic writing, it is possible

to suggest scientific conclusions about the status of

official language and letters in the history of

statehood.

Let’s pay attention to the geography and

chronology of official texts in Kok Turkic writing

which were found till nowadays. It is important that

official texts were written centuries B.C. till the IX

century at different ends of the Central Asia region. It

concludes that at that period Kok Turkic alphabet was

in the status of state writing of Turkic khoqons.

The ancient official texts in Kok Turkic writing

were written very correctly. We can see to

orthographical norms of these official texts as the

literary language criteria of that period. There is a

strict order in letter order and orthography in the

document. It should be taken into consideration, that

Relic’s contemporary Kok Turkic writing did not

constantly reflect in words the graphic symbols which

depicted the vowels. In the text of the documents

written in Kok Turkic writing in many parts of the

word, the sign of vowels was written totally. For

example, the receipt for wine was written nearly at the

beginning of the VIII century the vowels in it were

reflected - Thomsen [1912].

From the IX century, in Turkic sultanates, the

situation in writing started to change. At that period

Turkic-Uigur writing became the main writing in

Turkic nations. This writing was widely used among

Turkic nations. “From Qashqar till China in all Turkic

states were used these writing”, informed Makhmud

Qashg’ariy in his work “Devonu lugatit Turk”)

Koshgariy M. [1963]. After our ancestors converted

to Islam, it was used side by side with Arab writing.

In the state ruling system, both writings had the same

legal status. For example, in Qorahonids state the

person who was occupied with documents bitigči,

only Turkic-Uigur writing but who wrote the

documents named ïlïmğa) - Koshgariy [1963].

According to Vamberi (1990) In the first half of

the XIII century the rise of Turkic-Uigur writing

related to Chingizkhan and his descendants. After

building their states, Mongols occupied neighbouring

states, in the state legal offices of uluses, were

subordinated to them it was used Turkic-Uigur tetter.

“Even they forgot their Mongolian language; Turkic

language was used as a palace and as an informal

speech.

In the XIV century in Temur’s state and Gold

Horde, Turkic-Uigur writing was under the protection

of the state - Vambery [1990]. At that period, the state

office works, official documents, diplomatic

correspondences, and clerical works used this

language.

An Arab historian Ibn Arabshoh [1992] in his

work “The Wonders of Fate in the history of Temur”

wrote the following words about the occupation at

that period the solid place of Turkic-Uigur writing:

“They (chigatoys) signs, decrees, orders, letters,

account note-books, (credential) with seal,

chronicles, poetry, story, news, agreement, fragments

from holy book, all letters in legal-offices and (even)

the torah of Chingiskhan was inscribed in this letter.

To know this writing a skilful person will not die from

hunger, because to (know this writing) from their

viewpoint it considered daily bread”.

Also, after Temur, his heirs respected Turkic-

Uigur writing as the heritage of their ancestors. In

their offices the clerk copyist from Turkic-Uigur

writing named baxšï.

It is significant from the history of writing culture

in the Temurids period that Turkic-Uigur and Arab

writing was used side by side (parallel). It is

important, at that period that the status of Turkic-

Uigur writing was not beneath Arab. The main part of

the documents of that period was in two different

writings: Timur Qutlug’, Abu Said and Fotih

Mehmed credentials were inscribed in Turkic-Uigur

writing it was lined byline and were developed in

Arab.

In the IX-XV centuries, Turkic-Uigur writing was

widely spread in a large region, and it was the state

writing. During that period, it appeared different

forms of Turkic-Uigur writings. According to

Sodikov [1992], The scientists divided Turkic-Uigur

writing into three groups. The official texts in Turkic-

Uigur writing also differ from each other with letter

appearances.

For example, in the XIII-XIV centuries many

paperworks were related to a mutual exchange

between the people, executing the trading documents,

economy and the type of writing credential of

To’htamish reminds the ancient Turkic-Uigur

writing. The teeth of the letters are relatively small in

the text; the signs which came after the word along

the letter direction and stretched above. The form of

the letter of these documents is close to the source

preserved till nowadays “Uguznoma’s” letter type.

The letters appearance of Timur Qutlug, Sultan

Abusaid and Fotih Mehmed documents in Turkic-

Uigur writing, from the viewpoint of the specialists,

A Focus on Formal Writing Style Standards

323

appeared in the next stage of passing into Arab

writing.

For example, after writing the text in Turkic-

Uigur writing was given the transcription in Arab

writing. These relics had special qualities. According

to the middle-age tradition of bibliology, in inscribed

relics, the texts in Turkic-Uigur writing were

inscribed in black bold types with cane, but the text

in Arab writing beneath it was inscribed in fine red

ink - Sodiqov [1990]. The teeth of the letters in the

texts are wide as distinct from another type of letter at

the end of the word the letters were stretched below,

and the pull-down element elongated. V.Radloff calls

the letter form of this credential “the letter of the

document” (Documenten schrift). But this type of

letter was copied not only the documents but also in

the XIV-XV centuries many literary works.

Therefore, the viewpoint of the scientist about this

type of Turkic-Uigur writing does not excuse it.

In the XIII-XIV centuries the main part of the

documents were inscribed with the aim of legalization

of mutual exchange relations between the people and

also the teeth of the letters in the documents were

given by Temurids Shokhruh and Umarshayh are

middle; the signs mainly the elements stretched below

were elongated. For depiction in the letter, the

consonants [s] and [q] were used alike sign. From the

viewpoint of French orientalist J.Deny [1957], the

type of the letter of these documents is very similar to

Turkic-Uigur writing forms of the letter of these

copies of the work “Merojnoma” and “Tazkiratul-

avliyo” (identigue).

It should be registered, that in Turkic documents

in Uigur writing which we investigate sometimes

consonant [h] gives together with the sign which

depicts [a]. This diverse graph draws scientist’s

attention away from who published the documents.

For example, V.Radloff in Tokhtamish credential the

name Hasan translated into transcription Äsän,

P.Melioranskiy in the sign of Umarshayh pronoun har

in such a way är, J.Deny the title in Shokhruh

document Bahadur in such an appearance Batur. But,

along with this not [a], but depict [h] consonant.

The definite punctuation signs serve to define the

graphic norms in the official style.

It is clear, that the graphic signs served for

accurate reflection phonetic features in letter, the

official correspondence as the text has legal power

should be read correctly and without mistakes. Along

with this, the diacritical signs have liberated the texts

from different interpretations and provide a definite

style.

The dot and double dots were put on the top of the

letter in Turkic-Uigur writing had served as a diacritic

sign. Sometimes for giving the sound for adopted

words, Arab writing as diacritic signs. Below we will

look through such kind of signs in some documents:

1) The double dots in many cases had been used

for depicting [gh], [q] and [x]

yarlïq “credential”

xanaqağa хонақога to khonoqa?

tarxan “тархонtarkhon” (LTK.P.18) in some

cases for depicting [s’] was used double dots:

quščï “қушчи the bird seller?”.

2) One dot in the text depicts [n]:

kentläriniŋ “кентларининг kent’s?”.

qonup “located” (BSH. P.11),

3) In part of adopted words “ayn” for depicting (ﻉ)

was used (ﻉ) from the Arab alphabet:

muta’addid “many times repeated” (ТK, P. 24),

‘varizat “additional tax (ТK, P. 45).

4) For depicting [h] (ﻫ) was used ﻫ:) mašhur

“popular”.

5) For depicting [h] (ﺡ Arab letter) was used ﺡ

Arab letter: mahruz “preserved” (ТK, P. 46).

6) In some official texts, four dots for ending the

sentences. The deed which is kept under the code U

5239 in Berlin fund after the sentence toğrï qïlïp

berdim (paid up totally), was put four dots:

In official texts of the XI-XIII centuries, some

words were repeated many times, formed samples of

phrases and phrases were inscribed in short form too.

For example, sänap – the word count in snp

appearance, the form čam čarïm in form čm črïm, the

pronoun män in form mn, yämä – “again” auxiliary

word ymä, the number yigirma yrmi (BSH, P. 12), the

term nišan which means the type of the document was

written in form nšn (WU, P. 12). It may be the

orthographic norm was adopted at that period in

office practice.

Turkic-Uigur writing was adapted to the speed

script. It contains from paucity of graphic numbers.

In Turkic-Uigur writing with a stroke of the pen is

possible to write one word. When the letters are

written together the words line up like a chain - Kara

[1972]. The office work needs such kind of writing.

Therefore, in the XI-XV centuries, many official

documents, paperwork, legal texts, and deeds were

inscribed in Turkic-Uigur writing.

In addition to that, we express one more idea. At

that period among the people, there was not only

reading and writing, but also there was an ability to

compose official texts, which was legal literacy. In

the XIII-XIV centuries aimed for the execution of

notarial relations between the people in documents

written in Turkic-Uigur writing was registered the

composer (clerk) of them. This work was done by an

educated person and with legal literacy. For example,

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the deed under the code U 5259 from the fund of

Berlin scientific academy is about the person Qavsidu

who borrowed the seed of sesame. At the end of the

receipt, Qavsidy stated that he wrote it by himself:

Män Qavsïdu özüm bitidim (I’m Qavsidu. I wrote it

by myself). Or at this fund, the document under the

code U 5271 relates to renting the land. In it talks

about the person whose name was Temur Buga who

rented the land from Qiyimtu. In the end, Qiyimtu

introduced Temur Bugani with the official text then it

was registered about the writing it. It is this fragment:

Qïyïmtu Tämür Buğağa ayïtïp bitidim (Qiyimtu

wrote through (vocalizing) to Temur Bug’a.

Therefore, the viewpoints of some researchers do

not prove so much that Turkic-Uigur writing is in the

narrow sphere, far from people relations and was not

used in diplomatic correspondence.

In the XIV century in some regions where dwelt

Turkic nations the official letter was inscribed in

Dorbaljin writing too. Several words about the name

of this writing, origin, and place in the writing culture

history of Turkic nations.

As we know, in the XIII-XIV centuries the

political, cultural, and social history of Euro-Asian

nations related to Mongol occupation. At that period

Mongols had built their sultanate in a great territory.

Mongols did not their national writing; therefore, they

used Turkic-Uigur writing and Turkic language (the

first years of the foundation of the empire) in state

offices and official correspondences. Turkic-Uigur

writing’s development during that period was related

to Chingiskhan and chingizids dynasties. Chingisids

respected and esteemed Turkic-Uigur writing as its

native - Kara [1972].

The historian Alouddin Otamalik Juvaniy in his

work “Tarihi jahongushoy” gave information about

ethnolinguistics and the way of using writing in the

lands of the Mongol empire at that period. In his book,

he noted that all people instead of studying science,

were occupied with learning the Uigur (Turkic –

Q.О.) language.

In the second half of the XIII century, the situation

had little changed. In 1234 Mongols occupied Qin

state in north China. In 1276 Mongols occupied the

Sun Empire in the southern part of China and all of

China became part of the Mongol empire. In 1264 the

center of the empire was moved to Honbaliq city

(Yanqin – present Beijing). In the early period of the

foundation of the empire in office and education, the

main place as a cultural force which was occupied by

Turkic nations was replaced by Tibetans and Chinese.

It was one of the reasons for the realization of writing

in the Hubilaykhan period.

In 1260 Tibetan monk Pagba-lama - Basiba

[1239] by order of Habilaykhan started to create the

new alphabet. Pagba-lama for creating the new

alphabet used the Tibet alphabet. Sometime later the

basis of this alphabet was created developed and new

Mongol writing. Seeing the form of this writing

dörbeljin üsüg (Mongolian – dörbeljin – “square”,

üsüg – means “writing”) or the “state writing” (in

Chinese – go qin). In dorbaljin writing as in Tibetan

was written not from left to the right, as ancient Turki-

Uigur writing was written upward.

In 1269 dorbaljin writing was introduced by the

order of the great khoqon Hubilay, were organized the

schools for studying the basis of the new alphabet.

Even in the center of the empire Turkic-Uigur writing

was prohibited - Kara [1974].

According to Loukotka [1950], there were 41

signs in dorbaljin alphabet, 9 of them served for

depicting vowel sounds. There was one sign in

Turkic-Uigur writing which had the feature to depict

several sounds, but dorbaljin did not.

That writing was planned in the future to be used

in all lands as the native writing. Therefore, some

signs in writing for depicting the sounds do not come

across in the Mongol language. At the beginning of

durbaljin orthography considered the features of

different languages - HLT [1981].

3 DISCUSSION

The orthography of the new writing considered the

features of the Chinese language. Several signs and

ideograms were created to register the sounds in the

Chinese language. There was not only tunefulness

(tone) and also it was not possible to depict the

melody accent that was peculiar to the Chinese

language. There are sources written side by side with

Chinese hieroglyphs and dorbaljin writing. There

were orthographic vocabularies created to show the

right way of writing hieroglyphs in dorbaljin writing.

One of these is the vocabulary “Mangu qin yun (The

features of the sound of Mongol writing)” which was

corrected again and widened in 1308 by Chju Qinvan

p.84 - HLT [1981]. Durbaljin in the history of writing

culture takes an important place in early phonetics

writing.

Dorbaljin writing was also used for writing the

text not only in Chinese or Mongol but also in

Tibetan, Sanskrit and Turkic languages.

There are more than ten sources in this writing;

preserved many relics in Mongol and Chinese

language and several fragments of the texts in Turkic

and Tibetan language. This writing had widely spread

A Focus on Formal Writing Style Standards

325

in China and Eastern Turkistan was part of the

Mongolian empire. There are many documents prove

that dorbaljin alphabet was widely used in office

works and official correspondences - Grigoryev

[1978]. The Mongol prince Haysan gave one of the

payment credentials in 1305 after liberating the

Buddha monastery from payment - Pelliot [1949].

In other uluses of the Mongolian empire

(Chigatoy, Joji, Hulagu) the new writing was known,

but was not popular; exactly, it could not replace

Turkic-Uigur writing. About this, Arab historian Ibn

Arabshoh in his work “The Wonders of fate in

History of Temur” wrote: “Chinese had dolbarjin

(exactly dorbaljin – Q.O) writing; I (presence) saw

forty-one letters. The reason for the excess of the

letters because they consider the letter all

pronunciation and “amalat” (additional sounds), also,

“bayn and bayinot” (auxiliaries and postpositions).

Therefore, it appeared excess and additional letters.

But chig’atoys have Uighur writing and it is popular

as Mongolian writing” - Ibn Arabshoh [1992].

It was considered that in the Central Asia region,

not many dorbaljin writing relics were inscribed in

the Turkic language, among them was the text in

dorbaljin writing on bark of birch found in the Golden

Horde region - Poppe [1941]. But research show that

that viewpoint was not correct. For example, at the

end of the last century, a German orientalist - P.Zieme

[1998] had published fragments of Turkic documents

in dorbaljin writing that were preserved in the Berlin

fund.

According to Zieme’s observation [1998], a

substantial part such kind of the documents in

dorbaljin writing were inscribed in the Turkic

language in the XIII-XIV century and have not

research till nowadays.

4 CONCLUSION

At the beginning of the XIV century, in the centre of

empire dorbaljin writing as a state writing became

weakened. Despite its completeness and correctness,

it could not replace Chinese hieroglyphs, Turkic-

Uyghur, Tibetian, and Arab native writing.

Notwithstanding, it should be paid attention that

dorbaljin writing in the history of human culture took

an important place as the first international alphabet.

The official texts from the next stages of

development of the Turkic official style continued

from the XVI till the beginning of the XX century

were in Arab written letters.

Along with this, according to the type of writing

in the text clerks had chosen the style of the

document. Mainly, it becomes clear in cases when the

definite word used in official correspondence and in

choosing the term and syntactical phrases. Drawing

conclusions on these issues constitutes another object

of research.

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