Abduali Kaidar

Abdulai Tuganbayuly Kaidar (born December 13, 1924, in the village of Taldybulak, Enbekshikazakh district, Almaty region - February 27, 2019) - scientist, veteran of the Great Patriotic War, Honored Scientist of the Kazakh SSR, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Philology, professor, president of the International Kazakh Language Society, winner of the Sh. Ualikhanov State Prize, Honorary Citizen of Enbekshikazakh district, one of the prominent representatives of Turkic studies. Abdulai Tuganbayuly was born on December 13, 1924 in the village of Taldybulak, Enbekshikazakh district, Almaty region. He came from the Kanly clan of the Great Zhuz. In 1941–1946, he participated in the Second World War and became a veteran. In 1951, he graduated from the Faculty of Philology of the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (then the Kirov Kazakh State Institute), and from 1951 to 1954, he studied at the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan for postgraduate studies.

In 1954 to 1995, he held various positions at the Institute of Linguistics and the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences: a junior researcher in the Uyghur-Dungen Culture Sector, then a senior researcher, in 1961 to 1963, he was the head of the Uyghur Philology Department, in 1967 to 1978, he was the deputy director of the institute for scientific work, and in 1978 to 1995, he was the director of the institute. Since 1995, he has been an honorary director of this institute.

For half a century, he has been engaged in research on the Kazakh and Uyghur languages, as well as general and comparative Turkic studies. His contribution to the science of Turkic studies in general, Kazakh linguistics and Uyghur studies was reflected in more than 400 works in the form of monographs, textbooks, dictionaries, collections, and articles. The main areas of his scientific heritage are: lexicology, dialectology, ethnolinguistics, language structure, Turkic and Altaic studies, history of science, and language policy. He also made a significant contribution to the fields of lexicology, etymology, onomastics, terminology, semasiology, and phraseology. His research covered many issues, such as the structure and composition of monosyllables, the phenomenon of syncretism, homogeneous homonyms, pleonasms, double words, imitative words, dead roots, word formation patterns, phonetic patterns, literary norms, and style.

Kaidar was also active in public service. He contributed to increasing the state status of the Kazakh language and conveying opinions on language policy to society.

Among his state awards: in 1944, the Order of Glory of the USSR, III degree, twice the Order of the Red Star, in 1984 the Order of Friendship of Peoples, in 1985 the Order of the Great Patriotic War, I and II degree. In 1971, he was awarded the State Prize named after Sh. Ualikhanov. He was also awarded the Certificate of Honor of the Supreme Council of the Kazakh SSR, the title of "Honored Scientist of the Kazakh SSR", and the title of "Outstanding Person in the Work of Public Education of the Kazakh SSR". In 1997, he was awarded the highest award of independent Kazakhstan - the Order of "Otan", and in 1998, the Order of the State of Turkey - the Order of "Badge of Honor". He was the owner of the "Motherland" and "Sympathizer of the Kazakh Language" awards of the International Kazakh Language Society. In 2014, he received the Order of Friendship, 1st degree, from the hands of the President.

Academic titles: in 1970 he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philology, in 1972 he became a professor. Since 1983 he has been an academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, since 1989 he has been an honorary academician of the Mustafa Ataturk National Academy of Sciences of Turkey, since 1991 he has been an honorary academician of the Academy of Sciences of Bashkortostan.

Abdulali Kaidar is a major scientist who devoted his entire life to science, linguistics, and the spiritual unity of the Turkic world, a prominent figure of Kazakh science.

The Mukhtar Auezov district of Almaty is named after the Doctor of Philology, Professor Abdulali Kaidar. The length of the street is 850 meters.