As Kazakhstan prepares [1] for a highly controversial [2] shift from Cyrillic script to Latin alphabet, its netizens are keen to note that a similar reform implemented years ago by Uzbekistan has not been very successful. Reflecting on her recent trip to Uzbekistan, Margarita Bocharova writes [3] [ru]:
It was also very interesting to see for myself whether Uzbekistan has fully switched to the Latin script. You know, it hasn't at all. I would say that only about half (or even less) of all signs that we passed were written in Latin alphabet. The rest [was written] in Cyrillic script…
Generally, this has only reinforced my conviction that forcing a language to follow state-dictated policy is so difficult that it is hardly possible at all within 20 years or so.