INTRODUCTION

What is Turkish?

Turkish is one of many Turkic languages spoken in the world. All Turkic languages

belong to the Altaic language family along with other languages such as Japanese,Korean and Mongolian. Turkish belongs more specifically to the subgroup of Southwestern Turkic languages thus distinguishing itself from some other Turkic languages spoken in Central Asia.Turkish, the official language of the Republic of Turkey, is the primary language of morethan 73 million people, and well over 100 million more people use various other Turkic languages, some of which are very closely related to Turkish.In Turkey, since 1928, Turkish has been written with a modified Latin alphabet and thus its alphabet resembles other Latin-based alphabets such as German, English, French or Spanish. Before language reforms in the 1920s, the official form of Turkish was written in Arabic script and, the language in its grammar and vocabulary differed markedly from the spoken language. This older form of Turkish referred to as Ottoman Turkish was the administrative and literary language of the Ottoman Empire. Today’s Turkish or Modern Turkish is a language used in all capacities, official, cultural and otherwise.



Why study Turkish?

​​Many American students may wonder whether there would be any opportunities to put Turkish language skills to use. Knowledge of Turkish provides many benefits to students with a wide variety of interests and goals. While Turkish is the official language of one country, the Republic of Turkey, this country is strategically connected, geographically and culturally, to Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Thus, Turkish and knowledge of Turkey would be advantageous to anyone interested in the international business or politics of those regions. Likewise, for students pursuing careers in business or government service, opportunities in Turkey will only continue to increase as Turkey continues to develop as a global economic power.

For students focusing on research and teaching, a wealth of opportunities are afforded with the knowledge of Turkish. Whether you're interested in  archaeology  and ancient cultures, medieval history, Islamic studies, or any number of issues connected to the history, political science, and sociology of modern Turkey or its surroundings, Turkish
language skills open up research areas that are not available to American scholar lacking in Turkish language skills. Knowledge of Turkish can act as a bridge for students interested in going on to study other Turkic languages. In addition Turkey is the successor State to an Empire that lasted for 700 years and span across three continents. Thus archives in Turkey house materials pertinent to research about much of the Middle East.
Aside from the advantages mentioned above, studying Turkish may also be personally rewarding for students who may not be planning to apply Turkish in their academic or professional careers. Learning Turkish opens up a rich and varied culture to you and allows you to interact with other Turkish speakers. For example, some students of Turkish heritage choose to learn Turkish in order to better understand the experiences and language of their parents or grandparents. For some students, a Turkish class will expose them to Turkish culture. Either way, whether you see Turkish as an intellectual challenge, a professional or academic tool or personal enrichment, it is invaluable as a key to intercultural communication and understanding.