Happy Turkish Language Day

Our Turkish Language Day is a holiday aimed at developing the Turkish language. We celebrate September 26th every year as "Language Day," which marks the opening day of the "First Turkish Language Congress" held in 1932 under the instructions of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

However, I would like to begin my article with a painful observation.

In many cities in Turkey, a portion of higher education is conducted in English and French. That is not all; it is known that a university in Istanbul providing education in German has also begun operations. 

Many individuals and institutions in Turkey advocate for and desire university education to be conducted in a foreign language. According to them, science and technology are produced at a high level in the West, and these countries dominate the production of capital, goods, and services. 

As a necessity of this, education in a foreign language is seen as a tool for integration with the West. Among other justifications, arguments are put forward such as that Turkish cannot be a language of science, that teaching in a foreign language will increase the quality of education, and that success will rise with a foreign language. 

Let us ask a question here to those who advocate these ideas.

 Will universities that provide education in Chinese also be opened instead of universities that provide education in Western languages?

Even in the current situation, the production of capital, goods, and services in the world has shifted to East and South Asia. According to reports by economists, countries like China and India have come to dominate approximately half of the world market. 

In the near future, it seems that China will be at the center of power. 

Are the initiatives of the United States in the Middle East and North Africa under the name of a new world order not a part of this anxiety? 

In this case, if China is to seize the dominance of the production of capital, goods, and services, will the establishment of universities in Turkey that will provide education in Chinese not come to the agenda according to the approach of those who advocate foreign language education? Do not be surprised; they will advocate for that too.

If you wish, let us also engage in a fantasy on this subject:

“In 2026, we will attend a scientific meeting in Izmir jointly organized by universities providing education in Chinese, English, French, and German. 

While going to the meeting place, we stop by places whose names have not yet been changed to Chinese instead of English. 

We have our breakfast at “Sultans of Simit”. 

We have time, so we go into “AFM Bowling” to play a game. 

Meanwhile, we ask the relevant people, “Why are there no Chinese signs instead of English signs?” 

Because the dominant language in the country has become Chinese, and there are Chinese goods and companies everywhere. Citizens also speak broken Chinese. 

Then, we enter the meeting hall at “The Kordon Hotel” next to the Izmir Outlet Center. A moment of silence is observed accompanied by “American Taps” music(*) and then the “National Anthem” is sung. 

Later, the opening speech is made in Chinese and papers are presented. Speeches in Chinese, English, French, and German are translated into Turkish with some effort for those who do not know them.

A break is taken, participants speak Chinese among themselves, while the delegates, who are mostly Turkish, avoid speaking Turkish and are ashamed. 

Turkish is not accepted as a language of science.” 

Is this a fantasy? Or is the trend in this direction? 

Do we know the misery of education in a foreign language?

In schools that provide education in a foreign language, the vast majority of students say that they cannot fully understand the lessons given, cannot ask questions, and resort to rote learning. A "Tarzan-like" communication is established between the instructor and the student using half-Turkish and half-foreign language. 

As a result, technical personnel who do not analyze and only receive dry information are raised. A significant portion of the graduates either go abroad to work and pursue postgraduate education or are employed by foreign monopoly firms. 

Unfortunately, we have universities and schools in Turkey that provide education in Western languages, and some continue to use foreign terms and words in our social life, especially in the world of science.

What is intended to be done? 

Through education in a foreign language, a foreign way of thinking and a foreign culture are being tried to be instilled in young minds. In this way, it is intended to raise people who look at their country's problems like foreigners and consider socio-economic models designed for the interests of others as their own models. Attila İlhan did not shy away from calling them "agents". 

In this direction, our distinguished intellectual Mümtaz Soysal, whom we bid farewell to eternity in 2019, also said in an article, "A society that hands over a part of its youth to foreign-sourced brainwashing with its own hands and does this enthusiastically probably only exists in former colonies." 

In short, education in a foreign language was envisioned as the only way to reach technology and knowledge. The subject of learning a foreign language and the subject of education in a foreign language were deliberately confused. A very important point is being tried to be forgotten here; one of the most important elements that keep nations together is the national language. When this bond is weakened, national integrity begins to suffer serious wounds.

Let us remind some: Turks have never been a colony in any period of history. Because the Turkish language was the most important phenomenon that kept the Turkish society together. For this reason, it has always existed and will always exist.

Happy Turkish Language Day. 

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(*) I would also like to recall an article I wrote earlier titled “Where Does the Taps Sound Come From?”. In my article, I wrote with documentation that the Taps sound played during the Moment of Silence held before the National Anthem at official ceremonies in Turkey is a lament composed against the destructions of the war during the American Civil War. (See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn-iz8z2AGw)

In this context, I asked the authorities what this music, which is important for America, expresses for Turkey, and stated that the issue concerns not only musicologists but all patriots.

My article was published in a respected music magazine, and some even quoted it. (See: www.musikidergisi.net.) The Muğla Bar Association also tried to do what was necessary after my article.

However, there has been no change in the matter, and musicologists have not spoken up either.

What we should call this level of "Mankurtization" (loss of national identity), it is not possible to know.