The meanings of the words “Kazakh” and “Kazakhstan” are often confused, although they have completely different meanings and are used depending on the context, writes IZ.com.ua. In order to choose the right word, it is important to understand the origin and peculiarities of the use of these adjectives.
Content
- Difference between Kazakh and Kazakhstani
- When should you say “Kazakh”?
- When do we use “Kazakhstani”?
- Common usage errors
- Examples of correct usage
- How to remember the difference
Difference between Kazakh and Kazakhstani
The word “Kazakh” is used when referring to belonging to the Kazakh ethnicity, culture, language, or traditions. For example, the Kazakh language, Kazakh cuisine, Kazakh customs. By using this word, you are emphasizing the ethnic or cultural aspect.
At the same time, the word “Kazakhstani” has a geographical meaning and is used when it is necessary to emphasize belonging to the state of Kazakhstan, and not to a specific people. Examples include the following phrases: Kazakh passport, Kazakh economy, Kazakh politics. It is important here that this word covers all citizens of Kazakhstan, regardless of their ethnicity.
When should you say “Kazakh”?
Kazakh should be used when you mean:
- the language of the people (Kazakh language);
- culture or traditions of the Kazakhs (Kazakh dances);
- ethnic characteristics of the people (Kazakh ornament);
- the history of the Kazakh ethnic group (Kazakh people).
In these examples, it is the ethnic component that is emphasized.
When do we use “Kazakhstani”?
Kazakh is appropriate to use in the following cases:
- nationality (Kazakh citizen);
- national aspects affecting all residents of Kazakhstan (Kazakhstani army);
- issues of politics, economics or law that concern the entire country (Kazakhstani legislation).
This word has a political and administrative nature.
Common usage errors
Mistakes often occur when terms are used for purposes other than their intended purpose. For example, it is incorrect to say “Kazakh language” because the language is ethnic, so the correct word is “Kazakh language.” You should also not say “Kazakh passport,” because a passport is issued by a country, not an ethnic group, so you should say “Kazakh passport.”
To avoid such mistakes, always determine whether you are talking about ethnicity and culture or about a state and its citizenship.
Examples of correct usage
Below is a table with examples of the correct use of the terms “Kazakh” and “Kazakhstani”:
| Right | Wrong |
|---|---|
| Kazakh language | Kazakh language |
| Kazakhstani passport | Kazakh passport |
| Kazakh traditions | Kazakh traditions |
| Kazakhstani athlete | Kazakh athlete (if we mean only ethnicity) |
How to remember the difference
To easily remember the differences between words, keep in mind a simple rule: if we are talking about ethnicity and culture, we use “Kazakh”. If we are talking about citizenship, territory, politics or economics, we use “Kazakhstan”. This simple rule will allow you to avoid many language mistakes and make your speech correct and literate.
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