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/"*

New Years in Turkey!

New Years is a time for celebration, preparing for resolutions that will last no more than one week, and a time you spend with family and friends. How do you spend your time on New Years? In America, until you are a certain age you are asked to stay and spend it with family at home with some special foods and games. When you get a certain age to drive you are given a 2 hour talk about why you are not allowed to be out late, and that you will expect 50 calls until you get in the driveway, and the dangers of drinking and driving. (Which I believe this is a very important talk for kids that age.) Then you get to the age where you realize the dangers of drinking and driving, and decide to spend the whole night with friends, while calling home sending your New Years wishes.

As you know, in America, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, AND New Years all less than 1.5 months. Not that we don't love our families, but when you come to a certain age you want to spend the last holiday with friends; in a way its to much family in that certain time. (Again, not to say that we don't love our families, because I know I sure do!)

In Turkey, there are some similarities; people are split between staying at home with families or going out with friends. Since there are no other close holidays, it is not uncommon to hear that many individuals spend the time with family. Since there is a great public transportation system and a very cheap rate for taxi cabs, there is no worries about drinking and driving. For this reason, teenagers and young adults, if not spending their time with family, they typically go out rather than staying in for a house party.

Some typical things young adult's do for New Years Eve:

• Take a trip to Cesme - An hour drive beach city where you can go to clubs and sit on the beach.
• Go to normal clubs in Alsancak.
• Go to one of the many concerts (Famous singers give concerts around the country)
• Take a trip to Istanbul for a night on the town, possibly seeing a special concert.
• Travel to Uludag, Bursa - A ski resort town.

For me, last year I went to Istanbul for one night (flying in the evening and flying back in the early morning) to watch a Hadise concert. This year I decided to go with my host family to Uludag in Bursa, Turkey.

2010 - 2011 New Years Concert with #TeamHadise:

Hadise Acikgoz

Team Hadise

Team Hadise having a sip of Starbucks before the concert!

While the time was filled with skiing and playing in the snow, New Years Eve was filled with something else. Of course there was Santa Claus (Read my Christmas post to see why there was Santa Claus on New Years: Christmas in Turkey). After spending quite some time to get ready (With everyone wanting to look there best), we went to the dining hall to enjoy a fancy 3 course dinner that was served timely. We then went to the top of the hotel and watched a concert by Fedon, a Greek-Turkish singer. It was a classy concert of course, so there was special tables you stood at. We ordered red wine and was served fruits. After this we went to a dance club to end the night at about 5AM.

All in all, I can say it was my first high-class New Years celebration. I really enjoyed it, but I did miss the American tradition of spending it with family or friends at a house party.

You can see information about my ski trip last year to Uludag here: Livin' it up in a Turkish Snow Globe!

2011 - 2012 New Years Pictures:

Uludag, Bursa, Turkey

 

Unlimited Nuance (Poem)

Unlimited Nuance

By: Dustin Sherman

Gently whisping through

life.
Peace entails the
body.

Four chambers hold its’
eminence.
Beating, flowing, sifting
to strength.

The waves push it from
one shore to another
foreign land.
Alteration.

Pushing away from the
borders walls.
Terrified to embrace new
life with limbs.

Walls hosting deceit,
abstraction, endangerment.
Free spirits advance away from the
conformity.

Death is imminent, as it is to
ignorance.
Prolong ignorance,
engulfed by knowledge.

Truth is lurking.
Fear less.
Life is honored.
Hope is succeeded.

Gentle words of
assault,
will not hinder its
growth.

Disguised as innocence,
powered by paranormal,
enlightenment, a
lack thereof.

Ajar windows to
the tallest
mountain.
It pushes on.

Embraced by itself.
Strength learned.
Opened channels of its spongy matter.
The light piercing from its insides.

Bright self sufficient innerbeauty.

Christmas In Turkey

How do you spend your Christmas? If you're in America, you are most likely going to a church service on Christmas Eve, singing jolly songs and having a family dinner. Then all the children go to sleep as early as they possibly can anticipating Santa to come, if you are on the "good list." The next morning you wake up, eat some fresh cinnamon rolls, and open presents in your PJ's. Families get together, exchange gifts, and maybe even go visit a special friend in the evening. At least this is how I remember Christmas, in America.

What Does Christmas Mean?
I have been and still being asked: "What are your plans for Christmas?" At first I responded with an answer like "nothing" or "sitting at a cafe." However, you see, what they mean is, what are you doing for New Years? While Turkey has a variety of respect for religion, Islam is still the majority, so Christmas, the religious and commercial version, is swept under the carpet. The Turks, in my opinion, consider New Years as Christmas.

What Makes Christmas in Turkey?
You won't see the Salvation Army people ringing their bells nonstop in front of Wal-Mart. You can and will see Christmas light on some trees, and some buildings, but nothing even remotely close to the intensity of America. You will see snowflake decorations in the windows of shops. Many homes buy a "Christmas tree," but for the purpose of New Years! Unlike my own tradition, you have to buy your tree from the store. While you may be able to cut a tree somewhere else in Turkey, I wouldn't know nor have I seen.

Decorating the "Christmas Tree"

My Christmas in Turkey:
Well, I lived life like any other day on Christmas. I did treat myself to a Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks as well as some cinnamon rolls and sat in front of Ege Park (A mall). Then went to Bostanli to play some Backgammon until 4AM.

I do remember last year a special friend, Gonca, came over with a card and a bottle of white wine. She was dressed up and made me get ready to go out and celebrate. Such a sweetheart! :D

Christmas AKA New Years:
Turkey has adapted their marketing and commercialization just like that of America. While turkey does not have "Black Friday" (Day after Thanksgiving shopping), they do start to market and promote bargains about the second week of December. While everyone in America buys and shares gifts on Christmas, Turks buy and share gifts on New Years Eve. If you are lucky you get a pair of brand new red underwear!!

Ceyda in her lucky red underwear, hahaha! :D

So I can say I miss my family and friends dearly, especially after missing my second year of Christmas. However I do look forward spending this "Christmas" in Uludag, a ski resort, with a "christmas tree, sharing gifts and laughter!

*I do not own the first Photo*

TV Culture: Turkey Vs. America

Hadise on the Beyaz Talk Show

We all know that there is a significant culture surrounding the TV with movies, drama, music, reality shows, game shows, talk shows, and more. How has the TV culture rubbed off on Turkey/the world? How is the TV culture different between America and Turkey? What are commercials like in Turkey compared to America? Which are my favorite commercials in Turkey? (*Videos located at the bottom*) How much does a Turk watch a TV compared to an American? While I can't say personally that I watch much TV in American or Turkey, if not at all many times; however, let's see if I can dive into this and write something from my point of view.

According to a recent Business Week article "in 64% of (American) homes, the TV is on during meals." They also mention the relationship between obesity and the hours watching TV; while meals in Turkey are typically spent at the dinner table or restaurant surrounded by family or friends, not the TV.

To be objective with these facts though, I would point out that the average Turkish family has 1 or no car, while typically every American with a license has a car. Turks need and want to walk everywhere and typically spend more of their time outside than in front of the TV. An American does not need to walk, they will drive anywhere even when it's a 5 minute walk, and they will even drive around a parking lot searching for a front space. But this is going off topic.

While Turks do not spend as much time in front of the TV as an American, they still spend a significant amount of time in front of the TV. The main thing you will see on a TV is a football (Soccer), Basketball, or volleyball game. This culture has floated from America. American football and basketball is highly rated, marketed, and watched by Americans, and is being pushed internationally. Turks are quite into NBA, in fact, when I first arrived, I was frequently asked, "What is your favorite basketball team?" While in America you will have a football party at home, Turks will do the same, but typically they will gather in a cafe and chant, holler, and scream for their favorite team. For an American the Superbowl is probably the most important thing in the world, possibly the universe; while for a Turk, anytime Fenerbache and Galatasaray (A HUGE national soccer rival) plays it is as important as the Superbowl is for an American.

There is also a big push for game shows in Turkey the past year, like that of America. Many of the American game shows have been turned into shows here in Turkey. For example:

• "So you think you can dance" is "Yok Boyle Dans/ Nothing like this dance"
• Survivor is Survivor
• America Got Talent is "Yetenik Sizsiniz Turkiye"
• The Voice is "O Ses Turkiye/ The voice of Turkey"
• Who wants to be a millionaire is "Kim milyoner olmak ister?"
• Deal or No deal is "Var misin yok musun?"
• The weakest Link is "En zayif halka"
• Wheel of Fortune is "Carkifelek"
• Are you smarter than a 5th grader? is "5'e gidenden akilli misin?"

This pushing change for these game shows is bringing Turks closer and closer to the TV. While the Turks love their soap operas and drama series, there is something about games and winning. Turks are driven by winning, it runs in their blood. So to watch these sports and game shows, they get excited and almost drawn to watch more and more.

Commercials have a few distinct differences between America and Turkey. If you ask any American, they will instantly tell you they hate commercials, especially during political elections. You will be watching a show for only 5-10 minutes and then there will be 5 minutes of commercials. By the end of your show, you have watched 2 programs, the show and the commercial. In Turkey, the commercials are not nearly as frequent. While the commercials in Turkey can last 5-10 minutes, they occur every 30-40 minutes. Political advertisements are also regulated and not haunting your brain after watching, in Turkey. In Turkey, a company is not legally allowed to compare their products with other companies. In America, for example, a laundry detergent commercial would show 2 or 3 brands and deface the competitor's brands; however, this would never happen in Turkey. Turkish businesses are focused on showing its unique factors. They use a lot of graphic design and computer generated cartoons. While in America, commercials, in my point of view, are trying to strike an emotion and try to relate to its customers on a personal level. On this note, I find Turkish commercials much more innovative and creative. (At the bottom at a few of my favorites).

Hadise, Murat Boz, and Mustafa Sandal on O Ses Turkiye!

Lastly, not to make bad amends with anyone, I would have to add that while Americans will curl up under a blanket eating ice cream, chips, or cookies; a Turk will grab a huge bag of sun flower seeds and munch away at them while enjoying TV and a Turkish coffee. So I will grab my sunflower seeds for now and watch some O Ses Turkiye cheering on my favorite judge, Hadise!

My Favorite Commercials

Finance Bank:

Coca - Cola:

Kitchen Appliances:

*I do not own the rights to these photos*