Uzbekistan signs law to improve the Uzbek latin alphabet

The changes seek to standardize the spelling of certain letters and strengthen similarities between Uzbek and other Turkic-language alphabets.

Under the changes, the spelling of four letters and letter combinations will be revised:

• O‘ → Ö
• G‘ → Ğ
• Sh → Ş
• Ch → Ç

The changes are expected to bring the Uzbek alphabet closer to those used in Turkish, Azerbaijani, Turkmen and Kazakh. Some letters characteristic of a common Turkic writing system are already used in these alphabets.

The law also provides for a gradual transition to the revised alphabet. Existing documents, textbooks and other materials will not need to be replaced immediately. They will be adapted to the new alphabet when their validity expires, when they lose legal force or during their next scheduled update.

This approach is intended to ensure a gradual transition without requiring the immediate replacement of all existing materials.