On the issue of the state language and language policy in the Republic of Tajikistan

The Tajik language has historically held a distinctive and central place in Tajik society. Over the past two centuries, its status has been a subject of sustained public and institutional concern, particularly in socially significant domains. Language policy often becomes a focal point during periods of social transformation, as it is closely tied to the reorganization of public life. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a new functional distribution of languages emerged, leading to the promotion of national languages, the elevation of their status, and the expansion of their roles in public life. Notably, even during the Soviet era, Tajikistan distinguished itself as the first republic to adopt a language law – the Law “On Language” on July 22, 1989. In the post-independence period, this commitment was reaffirmed with the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On the State Language of the Republic of Tajikistan” on October 5, 2009. This paper seeks to examine the influence of these legislative acts on the expansion of the public functions of the Tajik language, the enhancement of its status, and the development of the modern Tajik literary language. Particular attention is paid to intra-linguistic structural changes, including lexical innovation and terminology development. The study addresses particular issues of language policy and planning, such as the role and usage of the national language functioning within Tajikistan, especially in key sectors of education and the media. It also considers the institutional framework responsible for implementing state language policy, regulating legal norms related to the state language, and formulating strategic directions for linguistic development.