Inaugural Adyghe Dictation Event to Promote Adyghe Language and Cultural Heritage

Photo: archive of the newspaper "Edinstvo"

At the request of its readership, the Edinstvo newspaper in Adygeysk is organizing its inaugural in-person Adyghe Dictation event. The initiative group approached the Faculty of Adyghe Philology and Culture with the proposal, and ASU has fully supported the initiative.

"We decided to organise the Adyghe language Dictation event in Adygea because, last year, city residents already demonstrated significant interest in similar educational events involving the Adyghe language. During the Total Dictation educational campaign, we held our own event, Total Adygabze, in Adygeysk for the first time. This showed that residents have a strong desire and interest in writing in their native language. Observing this activity and enthusiasm, Edinstvo decided to support and expand the city's participation in educational initiatives this year. That is why the editorial team joined the 'Adyghe Dictation' campaign and organised an offline event at the Central Model Library," said Suanda Pkhachiyash, the newspaper's editor-in-chief. 

The Director of the "UTA" Centre for Continuing Education will be a speaker, Marina Chetyz, who is the winner of the "Best Teacher of Native Language and Literature" competition and is a renowned advocate and promoter of the Adyghe language in the city. Her articles emphasising the importance of studying the native language are regularly published in the "Unity" newspaper. Additionally, she was part of the creative team responsible for republishing textbooks on the Adyghe language and literature. 

The campaign in Adygeysk will commence simultaneously with the event in Maykop—on March 13 at 12:00 PM. The dictation text will be provided by Adyghe State University and was prepared in 2026 in accordance with the objectives of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, declared by President of Russia Vladimir Putin. The completed works will be submitted to the university for evaluation by faculty, and the results will be published on the website of the Faculty of Adyghe Philology and Culture after March 24. Participants must register via the provided link to receive a certificate. ( https://forms.yandex.ru/u/6981df7f6d2d73d17fc9436f/ ). 

A special seminar will be held on March 26 at 1:00 PM in Room 201, during which teachers will discuss common mistakes. The international educational and awareness-raising event, "Adyghe Dictation," is held annually at the initiative of the Faculty of Adyghe Philology and Culture of Adyghe State University, in the lead-up to Adyghe Language and Writing Day. The first edition of the event was conducted in person in Adygea in 2019. The dictation aims to enhance literacy, promote the native language as a means of communication, and preserve the traditional culture and ethnic identity of the Adyghe people. Since 2020, the event has been supported by the International Circassian Association. Participation is voluntary and, if desired, can be anonymous.

Within the republic, the dictation is conducted in the Adyghe literary language. In addition to the Adygeysk site, participants have the option to take the dictation in person in Room 202 of the Faculty of Adyghe Philology and Culture at ASU (260 Pushkin Street, Maykop). Interested individuals may also assess their knowledge online, live on the ASU VK platform.