The origin of the course and its purpose and necessity are expressed in an article in the Journal of Language and Literature as follows:
This course, which was previously taught in some of our universities, was included among the compulsory courses in all universities with the establishment of YÖK in 1981. The Turkish Language Course, which was initially required to be taught in 8 semesters, has been taught in a total of 60 hours, two hours each in the first two semesters, since 1991. It can be said that the Council of Higher Education based its decision to make this course compulsory on the grounds that language education was not adequate in pre-undergraduate education. As a matter of fact, this situation is stated in the "Framework Program" as follows:
"Since the grammar and Turkish lessons in primary and secondary education are not of sufficient quality and quantity, students coming to universities have not gained the ability to use their language correctly and beautifully.
The instability of the Turkish language, which has resulted from its being pulled in various directions for fifty years, also has an effect on this result. This situation has manifested itself as an inadequacy for university education and has made it necessary to introduce Turkish Language Courses in higher education." (On Turkish Language Courses in Universities, Dr. Hanifi Vural, Journal of Language and Literature, Volume: XVIII, Issue: 669, September 2007). The justification for this course, which is taught in all faculties and colleges of higher education, is still valid today. In fact, this justification continues to increase even more today. This is because students who have completed their secondary education have serious problems in their ability to use Turkish. It is imperative to overcome the language-related deficiencies of these students who are about to enter life after completing a certain higher education institution.
It is certain that a graduate who can use his/her language well will be more successful in his/her profession than a peer whose language use is not good. From a sociological point of view, it can be concluded that language is a result of living in society. For this reason, when a definition is wanted to be made, it is said that "Language is a means of agreement between people". However, another consequence of living together with society is culture. However, the most important element of culture, which is the common behavior patterns of the society we live with, is language. Because it is assumed that language both creates and sustains culture. In this respect, language learning is also culture acquisition.
The aim of this course: To gain the ability to use Turkish correctly and beautifully, to make Turkish a unifying and integrating language in teaching and to raise young people with mother tongue awareness, to ensure that grammar subjects are comprehended not as theoretical knowledge but through observations and evaluations on texts, to make students conscious of expressing their thoughts, feelings and wishes correctly, to improve their ability to present in front of the community.
Confucius was asked;
If you had to govern a nation, what would you do first?
He answered as follows:
I would correct the language, if the language is not correct, the words spoken are not what is meant. If the words spoken are not what is meant, what needs to be done is not done. If what is necessary is not done, morality and art degenerate and justice goes astray. If justice goes astray, people will become idle in powerlessness and confusion; therefore, what is said must be said correctly. This is more important than anything else.
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course, the student will be able to comprehend and do the following:
- The function of words in oral and written expression,
- The importance of writing the elements correctly in Turkish sentences,
- Methods of analyzing selected sentences and fragments from literary texts and books,
Considering the points mentioned at the beginning and the aim of the course, the following are the topics that can be covered in the course:
- What is language? The place and importance of language as a social institution in the life of a nation; language-culture relationship.
- The place of Turkish language among the world languages.
- The development and historical periods of Turkish language.
- The current status of the Turkish language and its expansion areas.
- Sounds and classification of sounds in Turkish Language.
- Sound features of Turkish language and rules related to phonetics.
- Syllable knowledge.
- Spelling rules and application.
- Punctuation marks and application.
- Turkish language construction suffixes and application.
- General information about composition.
- Conjugation of nouns and verbs in Turkish Language.
- Forms of expression in composition and its application.
- The use of adverbs and prepositions in Turkish.
- Elements of the sentence, sentence analysis and application.
- Reading and analyzing the works related to the world of literature and thought and rhetorical applications.
- Types of written composition and its application.
- Expression and sentence disorders and their correction.
- Rules to be followed in the preparation of scientific writings (report, article, communiqué, etc.).
- The development of students' ability to write correctly and beautifully based on selected sample texts from Turkish and world literature and history of thought and rhetorical practices related to this.
Main Sources of the Course
- İsmail Aksaraylı, Turkish Language, Manisa, 2011
- Dr. Mehmet Sarı, Turkish Language, Okutman Publishing, Ankara, 2011
- Nihad Sami Banarlı, Turkish Secrets, Kubbealtı Neşriyat, Istanbul, 2011
- Prof. Dr. Zeynep Korkmaz - İsmail Parlatır - Necati Birinci, Turkish Language and Composition, Istanbul, 2010
- Sırrı ER, The Art of Effective and Beautiful Speaking, Hayat Publications, 2011
- Prof. Dr. Ertuğrul YAMAN, The Art of Silence, Akçağ Publications, 2012
- Nurettin Demir - Emine Yılmaz, Turkish Language Handbook, Grafiker Publications, 2010
- Nihad Sami Banarlı, Resimli Türk Edebiyatı Tarihi, MEB, İstanbul, 1987
