Language Karakalpak language is a subgroup of
Kipchak-Nogay language group. These characteristics are significant in respect of its
vocal and pronunciation patterns; Its vocal harmony is full. The labial attraction is not
full. Nevertheless, there is round speech patterns as observed in Khirghiz language (SÖzgö:
Söze). Their Written Language is Turkish used commonly by all Turkistan people until the
end of the century XIX. Their spoken language is much close to Kazakh-Khirghiz language.
Karakalpak written
language is rooted from the foundation of Karakalpakistan (1925). Karakalpak dialect is
mainly divided into two accents such as the Northeastern and Southwestern accents. Apart
from these two accents that are not much different from one another, there are some
accents spoken within the boundaries of Karakalpakistan such as Karakalpak-Kazakh,
Karakalpak-Turkmen and Karakalpak-Uzbek mixtures. Karakalpak language is close to the
languages of Nogay and Kazakh. The Northeastern accent is spoken in Kara-Uzbek, Tahta Köprü
and on the coastal sides of Aral. The mixed Karakalpak accent is included within this
group. In the rest of the country, in other words in the regions of Cimbay, Kokeyli, Kuybişev,
Kongrat, Şomana, Hocaeli, Kipchak, Şahbaz and Törtkül, the south-western accent is
spoken. The vocabulary is rooted from the Kipchak language in principle. Furthermore,
there are also Arabian and Farsi words in the dialect. Several words are rooted from
Chinese, and new words are extrapolated from Russian languages with a rate that has
gradually increased recently. The radio and television broadcasts are transmitted in the
languages of Karakalpak, Russian, Uzbek and Turkmen.
Karakalpak language
had become a written language in the Soviet period for the first time and an alphabet was
developed that was based on the Arabic letters at first. Pursuant to the declaration of
the independence of Karakalpak people in 1991, the Russian language was not taken into
consideration as before. The transition to the Latin letters has been accelerated for
getting of the influence of Russian language.
Religion
Karakalpaks are the followers of Sunnite Hanafi sect. The exact period in which they
adopted the religion of Islam cannot be known for sure. However, it is probable that they
adopted Islam between the 10th and 13th centuries during which they first appeared as a
different ethnical group. Karakalpaks are well known for their devotiobn in their
religion. As a matter of fact, the Russian researchers have determined that Karakalpak
people were the community that was most pious and devoted to their religion among the
Turks living in the Middle East. The dervish orders such as Nakşibendi, Kübrevi, Yesevi
and Kalenderi are fairly effective in this region. The religious order that established
the strongest relation with the people of the region is the order of Kübrevi. Its founder
is Necmenddin-i Kübra (1145-1221 D.C.) There is a specific population of Shiites in the
religious order of Kübreviye. The Sufism is still effective in Karakalpakistan. Although
there were 553 mosques in the year of 1914, there are not so many mosques left today. The
mosques that are present are located in Nukus, Törtkül, Hocaeli and Çimbay.
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