I have the deepest respect and love for my Turkmen mother tongue. To me, Turkmen is more than just a language — it is the soul of my identity, the echo of my ancestors, and the foundation of my cultural pride. Having studied many languages across Asia and Europe, I can confidently say that Turkmen is one of the most powerful, versatile, and expressive languages in the world. It carries centuries of poetry, wisdom, and history, yet at the same time possesses the adaptability and clarity to meet the demands of modern life.
That is why I feel profound joy and pride when I see the remarkable dedication of scholars such as Dr. Orazgylyjov. His work on the Makul Dictionary is far more than a collection of words — it is a bridge between generations, between homeland and diaspora, and between tradition and modern education. Through this dictionary, Turkmen words, phrases, and proverbs are preserved for future generations while also being made accessible to learners and researchers worldwide. For those of us living in the diaspora, this book is not just a resource but a lifeline that connects our children back to their heritage and introduces the beauty of Turkmen to the global community.
In today’s interconnected world, where linguistic diversity is increasingly valuable, such contributions ensure that Turkmen stands proudly alongside the world’s major languages. This effort is not only an act of preservation but also a forward-looking mission to place Turkmen firmly within global academic, cultural, and technological spaces.
As a Turkmen father raising my children outside of my homeland, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Dovran Orazgylyjov for his tireless devotion and contribution. I strongly recommend the Makul Dictionary to every Turkmen family, every linguist, and every lover of languages who wishes to explore the richness of Turkmen and to help this precious language flourish for generations to come.
About Turkmen scholar
Dr. Vahidullah Tac is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Bioengineering at Stanford University. His research focuses on the biomechanics of the human brain, where he applies machine learning methods to better understand complex material behaviors while placing particular emphasis on ensuring that the fundamental laws of physics are preserved.
He earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, where he developed physics-informed machine learning models for hyperelasticity, viscoelasticity, and material damage. By embedding physical laws as hard constraints within AI models, his work achieved more accurate and reliable computational frameworks.
At Stanford, Dr. Tac continues to integrate artificial intelligence with biomechanics. Most recently, he adapted diffusion models used in Generative AI to construct a physics-informed generative framework for hyperelasticity. His research combines engineering fundamentals with advanced machine learning to contribute both to computational science and to human health. Dr. Tac has also been awarded the prestigious Schmidt Science Fellowship, which, as highlighted by Forbes, is one of the most distinguished awards in the scientific world, offering young researchers the opportunity to carry out transformative work on a global scale.
Atamyrat Shagulyyev: “Makul Dictionary” — a new language bridge