Why Turkic languages are awesome

Writing systems

There are quite a few writing systems which have historically been used to write Turkic languages:

• Orkhon/Yenisei runic — This is neat in several ways. Not only is it runic in form, but it's based at least partly on Sogdian (as is Old Uyghur script—see below) and has alternative consonant forms for front vowels vs. back vowels.
• Old Uyghur script — This is what became the Mongolian script eventually, and was even pretty cool on its own.
• Various cyrillic scripts. Especially full of character (no pun intended) is the cyrillic Kazakh alphabet.
• Perso-Arabic alphabet, as used for Uyghur.
• Various versions of the latin alphabet. The Tatars are on the right track with this.

Phonology

Yeah, Turkic languages have awesome phonology. There should be tomes about it. More to come.

Morphology and Syntax

Just when you thought the syntax and morphology looked all bland and regular, ... More to come. For now see Kazakh Syntax Topics

History and Culture

Turkic peoples have varyingly existed in any number of cultures: nomadic steppe culture, Arab/Persian-world culture, Soviet culture, ... Religion has also varied greatly, but Tengriism is pretty cool.