Azerbaijani Language – The Foundation of Our National Identity and the Pillar of Our Statehood
Language is the spiritual wealth of every nation, its historical memory, and the fundamental pillar of its national identity and statehood. The historical journey of a people, its rich culture, literature, traditions, customs, and moral values are passed down from generation to generation through the mother tongue. For thousands of years, the Azerbaijani language has preserved the national identity of our people, sustained their spiritual world, and served as one of the principal attributes of our independent statehood. It is a rich, harmonious, and expressive language.
“Our Azerbaijani language is the language of poetry.”
— National Leader Heydar Aliyev
When people from different nations hear the Azerbaijani language for the first time, even if they do not fully understand its meaning, they often admire its harmony, melody, and poetic sound. This reflects the language’s rich phonetic structure, refined expressive capacity, and the cultural heritage shaped over centuries. Therefore, Azerbaijani is not merely a means of communication; it is one of our greatest spiritual treasures, preserving the soul, history, culture, and national identity of our people.
National Leader Heydar Aliyev once said:
“Language is the foundation of every nation’s identity.”
This statement best expresses the significance of the Azerbaijani language for our statehood and national identity. Protecting our mother tongue, developing it, and passing it on intact to future generations is the sacred duty of every Azerbaijani citizen. Young people should master the modern Azerbaijani language in all its nuances and use it correctly and richly in everyday life, science and education, the information space, public administration, and international platforms.
The Struggle to Preserve the Azerbaijani Language
During the Soviet era, suppressing national languages became part of official state policy. From the mid-1970s in particular, significant restrictions were imposed on the use of national languages in the socio-political life of the Soviet republics. Even in the 1930s, intellectuals who defended the rights of the mother tongue were subjected to repression and exile. Under such difficult circumstances, openly advocating for the protection of the native language required great political determination and courage.
It was during this challenging period that National Leader Heydar Aliyev made historic contributions by consistently fighting for the preservation and development of the Azerbaijani language. He mobilized intellectuals and society to defend the right of the Azerbaijani language to exist as the state language and demonstrated a principled stance in strengthening its legal status.
One of the most significant achievements of this struggle was the inclusion, at Heydar Aliyev’s initiative, of the provision “The state language of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic is the Azerbaijani language” in the Constitution of the Azerbaijan SSR, adopted on April 2, 1978. Considering the political realities of that period, this decision is regarded as one of the most important milestones in the history of Azerbaijan’s national statehood.
Azerbaijani as the State Language of Independent Azerbaijan
After Azerbaijan restored its independence, the issue of the state language entered a new phase. Article 21 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, adopted by nationwide referendum in 1995, established Azerbaijani as the state language, thereby granting it legal status as one of the defining attributes of the independent Azerbaijani state.
National Leader Heydar Aliyev also introduced important legislative initiatives to expand the use of the state language. His Decree of June 18, 2001, “On Improving the Implementation of the State Language”, defined the main directions of language policy and led to the establishment of the State Language Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
By another decree dated August 9, 2001, August 1 was officially designated as Azerbaijani Alphabet and Azerbaijani Language Day. This marked an important stage in the state’s policy of protecting and promoting the mother tongue.
The Law on the State Language of the Republic of Azerbaijan, adopted in 2002, further strengthened the legal status of the Azerbaijani language. The law emphasized that Azerbaijani is one of the principal symbols of the country’s independent statehood.
To align writing standards with modern requirements, the Cabinet of Ministers, on April 16, 2019, approved the Orthographic Rules of the Azerbaijani Language.
Continuing the Strategic Vision
The strategic course established by National Leader Heydar Aliyev is being successfully continued today by President Ilham Aliyev.
At President Ilham Aliyev’s initiative, significant state programs and decrees have been adopted to protect and develop the Azerbaijani language. These include:
- Expanding publications in the Latin alphabet;
- Preparing the Azerbaijani National Encyclopedia;
- Publishing masterpieces of world literature in Azerbaijani;
- Implementing the State Program on the Use of the Azerbaijani Language in the Context of Globalization and the Development of Linguistics in the Country;
- Promoting the broader use of Azerbaijani in the digital and electronic environment.
The 2018 Decree “On Measures to Protect the Purity of the Azerbaijani Language and Further Improve the Use of the State Language” gave new momentum to preserving the purity of the language.
Under the Decree of July 31, 2025, responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the Azerbaijani language, compliance with legal and linguistic standards, and ensuring its further development was assigned to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Preserving the Purity of the Azerbaijani Language
In the context of globalization, rapid technological development, and the growing influence of foreign languages, preserving the purity of Azerbaijani has become increasingly important.
President Ilham Aliyev has stated:
“The Azerbaijani language is so rich that there is no need for any foreign words. We must ensure the purity of the Azerbaijani language.”
This appeal is not directed only at state institutions but serves as a message of responsibility to society as a whole. Scholars, teachers, journalists, writers, media representatives, civil servants, and especially young people must adhere to the norms of the Azerbaijani language, protect it from unnecessary foreign influence, and use it correctly.
A National Duty
For centuries, the Azerbaijani language has preserved the national identity of our people, and during the period of independence it has become one of the fundamental pillars of our statehood. Today, Azerbaijani is recognized internationally as a modern language with a rich vocabulary and remarkable expressive capabilities.
Protecting our mother tongue, preserving its purity, and passing on its richness to future generations is the civic duty of every one of us. Learning foreign languages is a necessity in today’s world, but as National Leader Heydar Aliyev advised:
“Above all, learn your own Azerbaijani language well.”
Love and respect for the Azerbaijani language mean love and respect for our national identity, our statehood, and our future. To preserve our language is to preserve Azerbaijan itself.
