Turkish Language

Turkish is on of the major languages of the world, being the official language of Turkey. there is also a high usage (Population of Turks) in Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, France, The Netherlands, The United States, and Australia. Turkish is not related to any other major language of the Middle East like Arabic, Persian, or Hebrew, nor European. For this reason Turkish has almost no similarities in vocabulary or grammar with other languages, such as, English, French, and German. This makes learning Turkish difficult for speakers of other languages; however, it does have a regular structure with few exceptions, unlike English. Turkish is made up of mostly native words, while using a few loanwords from Arabic and Persian.

"one who says "I'm from the turkish nation", before everything must definitely speak Turkish.

• Turkish is an agglutinating language, with exclusive suffixation: Anne (Mother), Annem (My mother), Anneme (To my mother).
• Gender and definite and indefinite articles do not exist.
• Instead of prepositions, Postpositions are used. Benim icin (for me).
• Turkish is a subject-object-verb language. Example: Ben eve gittim - I home-to went (I went home).
• All forms that effect a verb are added by suffixes to the end of the verb. For example: Git (go), gitme (Don't go). 
• There is vowel harmony.
• Contains 29 letters; 21 consonants & 8 vowels. [Turkish words are read exactly as they are spelled. There are rare exceptions, unlike the English language ( See: read the 'o' in one & bone)]

Turkish is a fun language but sometimes tricky if you directly translate. You can come to a general conclusion, but in songs and TV shows, it is hard to understand what they actually mean. Turkish is very poetic and deep, there are also many proverbs; in fact I hear a proverb at least once a day while living here. Below are some simple examples of how the meaning is different from the direct translation:

• Cep telefon kapat. - Close the pocket telephone (Turn off the cell phone)
• Isik ac. - Open the light (Turn on the light)
• Nerde oturuyorsun? - Where do you sit? (Where do you live?)
• Ask Kac Beden Giyer? - What size does the love wear? (How many lovers can you have?)
• Ne haber 'Naber'? - What news? (What's up?)
• Ne var, ne yok? - What is there, what is there not? (What's up?)
• Memnun oldum. - I am satisfied. (I am pleased to meet you)
• Tuylerim kalkti - My hairs got up (I got cold chills / I got goosebumps)

I recommend you living in Turkey to learn Turkish, because every Language book I have come across explains wrong, or is too basic, not accounting for present day Turkish. If a textbook is your only method to learn I recommend "http://elementaryturkish.com/". It is the best textbook I have found.

Some basic Turkish to use while touring:

• Merhaba - Hello
• Benim adim _____ - My name is _____
• Nasilsin - How are you?
• Iyiyim - I am good.
• _____ Nerede - Where is the _____?
• Hosgeldin. - Welcome.
• Hosbulduk - I feel welcome
• Gule gule - Go with a smile (good bye).
• Neden - Why?
• _____ ne demek? - What does ____ mean? (for example, a particular word)
• Turkce bilmiyorum - I dont know Turkish
• Tesekkurler - Thank you
• Bir sey degil - Not at all (No problem)

Turkish In Use ;)

*Some of this info comes from "http://elementaryturkish.com/"*