The Working Council of the Terminology Commission of Uzbekistan, together with scholars from the Institute of the Uzbek Language, Literature and Folklore of the Academy of Sciences, reviewed Uzbek equivalents for 41 foreign terms used in the field of defense and submitted them for public discussion. In essence, this is an attempt to replace borrowed (mostly Russian/international) terms with “national” Uzbek words. This is about a targeted policy of Uzbekization of military terminology and a demonstration of “linguistic sovereignty”.
In the published list, it is proposed in particular to replace:
- blokada to qamal,
- protivogaz to gazniqob,
- tribunal to harbiy mahkama,
- blindaj to panajoy,
- bronejilet to zirhnimcha,
- blokpost to to‘siqpost,
- planshet to yonchiq,
- emblema to tanuq.
Some of the proposed equivalents are based on already existing commonly used Uzbek words — for example, xandaq (trench), qamal (blockade), nishon (target), yurish (march), tayoq (baton), gazniqob (gas mask). Such options look linguistically natural and are understandable without additional explanation.
However, a significant part of the list raises questions from the point of view of real usage. A number of forms look artificially constructed and are not recorded in living speech and media: zirhnimcha (body armor), panajoy (dugout), tanuq (emblem), yonchiq (tablet), to‘siqpost (checkpoint).
Some items in fact do not imply replacement: for example, kursant → kursant, payok → payok.
The initiative is an attempt at a systemic replacement of borrowed terminology with “national” variants. At the same time, the fate of such proposals is usually decided not at the level of commissions but in practice: only those words become established that begin to be used in the army, the media, official documents, and everyday speech.
The experience of previous terminological campaigns shows that artificially proposed forms that are not supported by living usage usually do not take root, even if they are formally recommended for use.
As reported by the working body, the commission is ready to accept and consider alternative proposals and comments on the presented national equivalents.
Below is the proposed list of terms suggested for replacement, with translation into English, compiled by us into a table.
| English term | Proposed Uzbek equivalent | Term proposed for replacement (uz-lat) |
|---|---|---|
| Aiguillette | Zarhal bog‘(ich) | Akselbant |
| Embrasure | Shinak | Ambrazura |
| Attack | Hamla | Ataka |
| Drum (drummer) | Nog‘ora(chi) | Baraban(chi) |
| Dugout | Panajoy | Blindaj |
| Blockade | Qamal | Blokada |
| Checkpoint | To‘siqpost | Blokpost |
| Body armor | Zirhnimcha | Bronejilet |
| Knapsack | Yukxalta | Veshmeshok |
| Guardhouse | Tutuqxona | Gaupvaxta |
| Bugle (bugler) | Burg‘u(chi) | Gorn(chi) |
| Saboteur | Qo‘poruvchi | Diversant |
| Sabotage | Qo‘poruvchilik | Diversiya |
| Patrol | Erovul | Dozor |
| Pillbox | UMMON, MJON | DOT |
| Baton | Tayoq | Dubinka |
| Igniter | Chaqnatkich | Zapal |
| Helmet | Dubulg‘a | Kaska |
| Cockade | Jig‘a | Kokarda |
| Mess tin | Qozoncha | Kotelok |
| Cadet | Kursant, tinglovchi | Kursant |
| Camp | Jamloq | Lager |
| March | Yurish | Marsh |
| Target | Nishon | Mishen |
| Trench | Xandaq | Okop |
| Ration | Payok | Payok |
| Tablet | Yonchiq | Planshet |
| Training ground | Dala o‘quv maydoni | Poligon |
| Gas mask | Gazniqob | Protivogaz |
| Regime | Tartibot | Rejim |
| Barrel | O‘qquvar | Stvol |
| Trench (communication trench) | Xandaq yo‘lagi | Transheya |
| Alarm | Bong | Trevoga |
| Chinstrap | Zanjirbog‘ | Trenchik |
| Tribunal | Harbiy mahkama | Tribunal |
| Fortification | Istehkom | Fortifikatsiya |
| Cap | Bo‘rk | Furajka |
| Chevron | Uqa | Shevron |
| Emblem | Tanuq | Emblema |
What do you think about the proposed replacements of military terms?