The Sigur Center for Asian Studies is happy to offer a not-for-credit Zoom course in Chaghatay in Summer 2025!

Description: This online, non-credit class will guide you through the basics of reading Chaghatay. Chaghatay was the Turkic literary language of Central Asia and is the immediate ancestor of modern Uyghur and Uzbek. Chaghatay is essential to anyone who wants to explore the history and literature of Central Asia from the 1400s to the 1950s.

This class is designed to be accessible to students currently enrolled in summer language courses. If you know Uyghur, you can learn Chaghatay really easily!

We will use the free textbook An Introduction to Chaghatay. This course covers the first twelve lessons.

Prerequisites: Knowledge of Arabo-Persian script as used in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, modern Uyghur, or other languages. Knowledge of a modern Turkic language such as Uyghur, Uzbek, or Turkish is helpful.

Fees: $280/student. 

Schedule: We will meet online via Zoom, 4:00–5:15 Central Time / 5:00–6:15 Eastern Time, on Mondays and Thursdays. The meeting dates will be June 16, 19, 23, 26, and 30; July 3, 21, 24, 28, and 31; and August 4 and 7.