Abduweli Ayup

Abduweli Ayup, a Uyghur linguist and educator who founded a Uyghur language kindergarten in China, shares his gripping journey from educator to exile. He details the oppressive measures against Uyghur culture and the vital role of language in cultural preservation. Abduweli emphasizes the importance of innovative education as resistance against state control. Personal stories illustrate the chilling realities of surveillance and cultural erasure faced by the Uyghur community, showcasing their resilience amidst adversity.

Abduweli Ayup, a Uyghur linguist and activist, shares his inspiring journey of founding Uyghur-language kindergartens to preserve his culture. He highlights the struggle of teaching Uyghur in a repressive environment where language becomes a form of resistance. Abduweli recounts his harrowing experiences of detention, where he faced brutal interrogations, and his subsequent exile. Now, he continues his fight for Uyghur rights, documenting stories and writing children's books, despite the challenges faced by his community.

Katie Martin, a generative syntactician connected to MIT, and Abduweli Ayup, a Uyghur language activist, share intriguing insights on Noam Chomsky's lasting influence on linguistics. They discuss the dual aspects of Chomsky's career, balancing groundbreaking theories with his political activism. Ayup highlights the struggles of preserving the Uyghur language under oppressive policies, emphasizing the emotional toll on children in boarding schools. Meanwhile, Martin dives into generative syntax, revealing its complexities and the ongoing debates surrounding Chomsky’s ideas.