The identity of the Turkish language is in danger!
Experts emphasize that the values that shape national identity, such as culture and ways of thinking, are transmitted to future generations through language. They point out that language plays a crucial role in forming, preserving, and maintaining cultural memory, which keeps society together.
Director of the Turkish Language Teaching Application and Research Center (ÜSTOMER) Selçuk Duman said that “Language must be preserved because it is the memory, identity, and means of thinking for a nation” and added: “A nation that cannot preserve its language will eventually begin to lose its cultural roots and memory, which is considered an existential threat to national identity.”
Selçuk Duman explained that “The language of social media is generally fast, reactive, and lacks depth. People now express their emotions with just emojis or words like ‘yes,’ ‘ohh,’ instead of saying ‘I’m so happy, wonderful…’. This situation can gradually distance individuals from the habit of analytical and deep thinking.”
On the occasion of Turkish Language Day on May 13, Selçuk Duman, Director of the Turkish Language Teaching Application and Research Center (ÜSTOMER) at Üsküdar University, highlighted the critical importance of language for a society’s culture and identity.
Culture that forms national identity is transmitted to future generations through language
Emphasizing that language is of great importance for the culture and identity of a society, Selçuk Duman stated that “Values such as culture and ways of thinking that shape national identity are transmitted to future generations through language. In this sense, language has a significant role in forming cultural memory, preserving it, and keeping society together.”
Preserving the power of thought and expression is only possible through language protection
“Language must be preserved because it is the memory, identity, and means of thinking for a nation,” said Instructor Selçuk Duman, adding:
“A nation that cannot preserve its language will eventually begin to lose its cultural roots and memory, which is considered an existential threat to national identity. Additionally, maintaining the power of thought and expression is only possible through the protection of language.”
The influence of foreign languages leads to the loss of vocabulary richness
Selçuk Duman pointed out that the greatest threat facing our language today is the problem of degradation and loss of depth, explaining: “This situation can be explained as the influence of foreign languages, particularly English, which leads to the loss of vocabulary richness. In various areas of daily life, English words are being used instead of their Turkish equivalents. For example, instead of saying ‘peak yapmak,’ we should say ‘zirve yapmak’; instead of ‘meeting,’ we should use ‘toplantı’; and instead of ‘focuslanmak,’ we should use ‘odaklanmak.’ Moreover, the unconscious use of English words in brand and store names reduces the prestige of our Turkish language in the eyes of society.”
The changes made by the turkish language association can have both positive and negative effects
Highlighting that the changes made by the Turkish Language Association (TDK) can have both positive and negative impacts, Instructor Selçuk Duman said: “The efforts to make the language purer and clearer have been accepted by the public for some words, and this has been seen as a reflection of the natural process of the language. However, some expressions and words were found inconsistent and insufficient, leading to their rejection. Additionally, TDK has enriched and strengthened the language by creating Turkish equivalents for technical and scientific terms.”
As language becomes shorter, meaning narrows
Instructor Selçuk Duman explained that today, especially younger generations, use hundreds of words through social media and digital platforms in an uncontrolled and unconscious manner, without paying attention to how accurate they are. He continued his remarks as follows:
“What is truly concerning is that this situation poses a potential threat to transform not only our language but also our way of thinking in the future. As language becomes shorter, meaning is narrowed. The widespread use of abbreviations like ‘nbr’ (what’s up), ‘tmm’ (okay), and ‘slm’ (hello) is not a sign of simplification in written language but rather its restriction. Abbreviations strip expressions of their harmony, and words lose their subtlety and soul.”
Emojis and abbreviations in language distance us from analytical and deep thinking
Instructor Selçuk Duman also emphasized that the penetration of social media language into both everyday speech and literary language is a serious and growing problem: “Social media language is generally fast, reactive, and lacks depth. People now express their emotions with just emojis or words like ‘yes’ or ‘ohh’ instead of saying ‘I’m so happy, wonderful…’. This situation can gradually distance individuals from the habit of analytical and deep thinking. It erodes the richness of vocabulary and weakens the ability to express oneself. This superficiality, unfortunately, threatens the ethics of communication and the culture of conversation in society. “In literature, this situation manifests as a form of pollution and ambiguity disguised as sincerity. For instance, sentences written in lowercase letters, narratives without punctuation marks, are considered ‘extraordinary’. Moreover, social media language produces content that is used quickly, discarded, and forgotten. If this trend spreads to literature, it will lead to the prominence of writings that are ‘trendy’ but lack depth.”
The influence of foreign languages is a cultural identity issue
Highlighting that the influence of foreign languages, particularly English, on Turkish is no longer just a linguistic problem but a cultural identity issue, Instructor Selçuk Duman stated: “However, the incorporation of these foreign words into Turkish is an inevitable aspect of the nature of language. What is important here is whether these words fill a genuine gap in our language as a natural necessity. For instance, using ‘check etmek’ instead of ‘kontrol etmek’ (to check) or ‘deadline’ instead of ‘son tarih’ can be seen as a reflection of a desire for complexity and ostentation.”
Instructor Selçuk Duman also explained that the so-called “plaza language,” which has emerged particularly among white-collar professionals, is a hybrid form of communication that is half English and half Turkish. “Clear thinking leads to clear speaking. However, this type of mixed language makes thoughts foggy and ambiguous. This language is used not for effective communication or knowledge transfer, but to display status and ‘elitism.’ In other words, sincerity is replaced by showiness and artificiality. Over time, this can lead to a gradual distancing from one’s own culture and identity.”
Emphasizing that the corruption of language is not only a problem for institutions or scholars, but an existential issue for all of us, Instructor Selçuk Duman stated: “As individuals, we must strive to use our language correctly and carefully, setting an example for the younger generation. We can promote this awareness by gently correcting linguistic errors we encounter and showing the correct usage. Additionally, we can contribute to the field of literature by writing essays, journals, and other written works.”
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)