T.Z. Tabulov and the Formation of Typography on Circassian and Abaza Languages

The article is devoted to the contribution of T.Z. Tabulov in 1924–1961 years in the formation of typography on the Circassian and Abaza languages. To write this article, the author extracted documents from the Branch of State Archive of KChR “Center of the modern history documentation” (Cherkessk), revealed books of T.Z. Tabulov from “Book Chronicle” (1924–1961) and made the catalog of his books wich was reconciled with the general alphabetical catalog of the Russian State Library (Moscow). The multi-faceted creative activity of the famous Caucasianist Tatlustan Zakeryaevich Tabulov (1879–1956) took place in the fi rst half of the twentieth century. He was primary educated by the famous Arabist Umar Mikerov in the village Biberdovsky (now the village Elburgan, KChR). Tabulov continued his studies in Ardon seminary, but did not graduate it. Tatlustan Tabulov is the originator of the Circassian alphabet (1923) based on the Arabic alphabet and Abaza writing (1932) in Latin. In the years of cultural development he has made a significant contribution to the development of books in Circassian and Abaza languages. In 1924 the fi rst textbooks of T.Z. Tabulov in Circassian language was published. In 1924–1933 years T.Z. Tabulov released 19 textbooks for Circassian schools.
In 1924–1932 years Abaza studied by the Circassian language in schools. During the 1924–1930 several generations of students in Abaza and Circassian schools studied with T.Z. Tabulov’s textbooks. In 1933 he published three textbooks in
Abaza language, next year Tabulov has published fi ve textbooks. In 1924–1933 years Tabulov released 26 titles of books in the Circassian language. In 1933–1936 he published 16 titles in the Abaza language, total circulation – 21575 copies.
Total in 1924–1981 years Tabulov published 67 titles of books in Circassian and Abaza languages: books, programs, collections of folklore, dictionary, translations from Russian into Abaza and Circassian languages. the famous Caucasianist
Tatlustan Tabulov is the founder of writing and typography of the Circassian and Abaza peoples.