𐰽𐰆𐰍𐰑𐰴

The name soğdak was borrowed from Sogdian swγδʾk, formed with the Sogdian adjectival suffix -’k, not a Turkic -ak. The runiform spelling permits both soğdak and suğdak; the long vowel in the later spelling reported by Kashgari is secondary. In the eleventh century, Kashgari applied this name to Sogdians living around Balasagun, who had adopted Turkic customs and often spoke both Sogdian and Turkic.