Kyrgyzstan 2024

The HALS field trip to Kyrgyzstan took place in October 2024, with a team consisting of students (both MA and PhD) and researchers engaging in fieldwork on various languages and linguistic topics in collaboration with local partners.

In October 2024, the Helsinki Diversity Linguistic Group (HALS) embarked on a research trip to Kyrgyzstan, lasting from October 19 to October 29, with some senior researchers staying beyond these dates. The group’s primary base was in Bishkek, from where teams traveled to nearby villages to study the diverse languages spoken in the region.

The group comprised two organizers, Sami Honkasalo and Ekaterina Gruzdeva; two doctoral researchers, John Banks and Bojana Damnjanović; six master’s students: Matilda Carbo, Essi Mäkinen, Toivo Qiu, Emma Vesakoivu (general linguistics), Mikhail Zolotilin (language technology), Enes Yilandiloğlu (digital humanities); and self-funded researchers: Juha Janhunen, Yurayong Chingduang, and Erika Sandman.

As part of the trip’s preparation, Jenna Sorjonen collaborated with the team to discuss research ethics, create consent forms, and organize a workshop on Linguistic Landscape Research, laying the groundwork for upcoming fieldwork. The group divided into teams based on research interests, focusing on languages such as Kyrgyz, Uyghur, Dungan, and Korean. Prior to departure, participants studied Kyrgyzstan’s cultural and linguistic context, developed research plans, and attended Kyrgyz language lessons. All team members were proficient in at least one relevant language, including Turkish, Russian, Chinese, and Korean.

The trip began in Bishkek, where the HALS group connected with local linguists and consultants. Support from Kyrgyz colleagues and representatives of minority organizations was instrumental in the project’s success. The team also forged valuable partnerships with institutions such as the American University of Central Asia.

Key themes of the research included the linguistic documentation of under-studied Kyrgyz and minority languages, as well as investigations into language contact and multilingualism. A sociolinguistic survey was conducted using questionnaires completed by bilingual and multilingual consultants.

Fieldwork activities included distributing flyers to recruit participants, creating a dedicated WhatsApp group, and setting up a HALS email address for communication. Collaboration with Kyrgyz Turkish University led to a workshop for local students, where Enes Yilandiloğlu presented computational methods applicable to Kyrgyz spoken data.

Beyond research, the group explored Kyrgyz culture, heritage, and cuisine. They visited museums, archaeological sites, and natural landmarks, including Kök Möynök Canyon and Kyrgyzstan’s largest lake, Yssyk Köl. The local community was exceptionally welcoming and enthusiastic about contributing to the research, and their kindness greatly enriched the experience.

This trip not only advanced linguistic research but also strengthened ties between international and local researchers, creating a foundation for future collaboration. The results of the research were presented at the HALS fieldwork seminar on 29 November 2024.