On August 1, Azerbaijan celebrates the Day of Azerbaijani Alphabet and Language.
This significant date was established by a decree signed by the national leader Heydar Aliyev on August 9, 2001, recognizing the country's complete transition to the Azerbaijani alphabet with Latin script.
The history of the Azerbaijani alphabet has undergone several transformations. From January 1, 1929, Azerbaijan used an alphabet based on Latin script. However, on January 1, 1940, a decision was made to switch to the Cyrillic alphabet. It wasn't until the 1990s that the initiative to return to the Latin script gained momentum.
On August 1, 1990, the Alphabet Commission was established, and the new alphabet was approved and put into use in 1992. President Heydar Aliyev's decree on August 9, 2001, officially declared August 1 as the Day of Azerbaijani Alphabet and Language.
Language is not merely a means of communication; it encompasses a nation's history, literature, and culture. Every Azerbaijani, regardless of their country of residence, is encouraged to remember and promote their native language, religion, national customs, and traditions.
In recent years, efforts have been made to ensure the wider use of the Azerbaijani language in the digital space. President Ilham Aliyev's decree on July 17, 2018, titled "On a number of measures to ensure the wider use of the Azerbaijani language in the electronic space," plays a crucial role in further expanding the application of the Azerbaijani language in the digital realm.