The Orkhon Alphabet

Introduction

The Orkhon alphabet, also called Turkic runic script or Göktürk alphabet, is the first writing system created specifically to transcribe a Turkic language. Used from the 6th to 10th centuries, it constitutes an exceptional testimony to the thought and history of the ancient Turks.

Discovery and Decipherment

The Orkhon inscriptions were discovered in the valley of the same name in Mongolia in the 18th century, but their script remained mysterious for more than a century. It was in 1893 that the Danish linguist Vilhelm Thomsen succeeded in deciphering the alphabet, revealing that the texts were in Old Turkic.

This discovery was revolutionary: for the first time, texts written by the Turks themselves were available, offering a direct view of their history and thought.

Structure of the Alphabet

The Orkhon alphabet comprises approximately 38 to 40 signs, mainly consonants. It is distinguished by several characteristics:

Writing is generally read from right to left. Each word is separated by a colon. Vowels are often omitted or indicated by diacritical signs. Some consonants have two forms depending on whether they accompany front or back vowels, reflecting Turkic vowel harmony.

The Major Inscriptions

The most famous inscriptions are those erected in honor of Kül Tegin (died 731) and his brother Bilge Qaghan (died 734). These monumental stelae, located in the Orkhon Valley, contain historical narratives, political advice, and philosophical reflections.

The text of Kül Tegin begins with these famous words: "When the blue sky above and the brown earth below were created, between the two the sons of men were created."

Legacy and Posterity

The Orkhon alphabet was used by several Turkic peoples before being gradually replaced by the Uyghur alphabet, then by the Arabic alphabet after Islamization. However, its study remains fundamental for understanding the evolution of Turkic languages and the history of the steppe peoples.

Variants of this alphabet have been found from Mongolia to Eastern Europe, testifying to the spread of Turkic culture across Eurasia.