Within the scope of UNESCO’s designation of December 15 as World Turkic Language Family Day, Üsküdar University organized a panel titled “Turkish as a Language of Civilization.” The event brought together distinguished academics from different disciplines and emphasized that Turkish is not merely a tool of communication, but the carrier of a thousand-year-old history, a rich cultural heritage, and a profound tradition of knowledge and wisdom. The role of language in identity formation, intergenerational linguistic rupture, and the balance between tradition and modernity were examined from multiple perspectives. The program also addressed the potential of Turkish as a language of science and civilization, as well as the contributions of the Risale-i Nur to language through its literary style and methods of expression.
The panel was organized by the Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP) and held at the Main Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall. The opening address was delivered by President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan.
Held in connection with UNESCO’s World Turkic Language Family Day, the panel was moderated by Asst. Prof. Nafi Yalçın, Faculty Member of the Department of English Translation and Interpreting at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Üsküdar University. The panelists were: Prof. Hanifi Vural from the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University Prof. Alparslan Açıkgenç from the Department of Philosophy at Ibn Haldun University Prof. Muhammet Gür from the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Marmara University Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Ali Gündoğdu from the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at İstinye University
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “Cultures can experience a father complex”
In his opening speech, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that UNESCO’s recognition of December 15 as World Turkic Language Family Day provided an important opportunity to highlight the silent yet profound contribution of the Risale-i Nur to the Turkish language. He emphasized that the aim of the panel was to discuss the role of language in culture, its capacity to build bridges between the past and the future, and the lessons that can be drawn from historical mistakes. Tarhan explained that a child who grows up with hostility toward their father may develop serious identity confusion and emotional immaturity. He added that just as individuals can experience a father complex, cultures can also experience it. According to Tarhan, Türkiye attempted to modernize by distancing itself from its own cultural roots, a process that began during the Tanzimat era and intensified during the Republican period. He underlined that modernization did not require abandoning cultural heritage and that one of the most visible consequences of this rupture was the weakening of linguistic ties with the past.
“Young people must confront the cultural father complex”
Prof. Tarhan stated that contemporary Turkish society exists in a state of cultural tension, being neither fully Eastern nor fully Western. He emphasized that this unresolved identity crisis has led to social polarization, although recent developments indicate a gradual movement toward balance. Referring to psychiatrist Vamık Volkan, Tarhan noted that Türkiye has struggled to complete its mourning process following the end of the Ottoman period. While the establishment of the Republic was necessary and appropriate for its time, he stressed that society should have reconciled with its past rather than rejecting it entirely. He stated that rejecting the past has led to two opposing extremes, one being radical Westernization and the other rigid traditionalism. According to Tarhan, the solution lies in synthesis. Being rooted in tradition is valuable, but being strictly traditionalist is problematic. What matters is carrying the truths of the past into the present through today’s language and conditions.
“Language both produces and sustains”
Emphasizing the living nature of language, Prof. Tarhan stated that language both generates and preserves meaning and must continuously produce new concepts. He noted that readers in Azerbaijan can understand Risale-i Nur texts with ease, while young people in Türkiye often struggle with the same works. This, he said, points to a rapid intergenerational linguistic disconnect. He compared this situation to other cultures, noting that English speakers can read Shakespeare and Italians can understand Dante, while many people in Türkiye struggle even with the works of Mehmet Akif. He added that the Risale-i Nur plays a significant role in maintaining linguistic continuity and therefore provides an important service to society. He concluded by expressing his appreciation to UNESCO for recognizing Turkish as a global language spoken by more than 300 million people worldwide. Following Prof. Tarhan’s opening remarks, the “Turkish as a Language of Civilization” panel began under the moderation of Asst. Prof. Nafi Yalçın. Asst. Prof. Yalçın stated that the panel aimed to examine the historical development of Turkish, its cultural richness, and its intellectual depth, while also highlighting the contributions of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi and the Risale-i Nur to the Turkish language.
Following Prof. Tarhan’s opening speech, the program continued with the panel.
The “Turkish as a Language of Civilization” panel took place
The Turkish as a Language of Civilization panel began under the moderation of Asst. Prof. Nafi Yalçın from the Department of English Translation and Interpreting, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Üsküdar University.
Asst. Prof. Yalçın stated that the aim of the panel was to examine in depth the historical development stages of the Turkish language, its cultural richness, vocabulary, and intellectual accumulation, as well as to highlight the contributions and services of Bediüzzaman Said Nursi’s Risale-i Nur works to the Turkish language.
Prof. Hanifi Vural: “The history of languages begins with the existence of written documents”
Within the scope of the program, Prof. Hanifi Vural, faculty member of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University, delivered a presentation titled “The Historical Course of the Turkish Language: An Evaluation within the Framework of Writing Systems and Vocabulary.”
Vural stated that, as commonly known, the history of languages begins with the existence of written texts and documents. He explained that periods such as the Altaic Era, the Proto-Turkic Era, and the Early Turkic Era are largely based on hypothetical approaches and intellectual inferences rather than concrete evidence. He noted that following the discovery of the Göktürk Inscriptions, and when looking slightly further back, Turkish has existed as the carrier of a rich civilization and culture from the sixth century to the present day, maintaining its vitality. He emphasized that Turkish is spoken across a vast geography stretching approximately six to seven thousand kilometers from east to west and about three thousand kilometers from south to north. Today, Turkish is the official language of seven different states and holds the status of a second language in approximately thirteen countries. Additionally, due to Turkish citizens living abroad, Turkish functions as an established second language in several other countries. With this widespread use, Turkish occupies an important position among the languages of the world. Vural also noted that modern Turkish consists of twenty distinct dialects, and when Chuvash and Altai are included, this number rises to twenty-two.
Prof. Alparslan Açıkgenç: “Tradition is a reciprocal process”
As part of the panel, Prof. Alparslan Açıkgenç, faculty member of the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Ibn Haldun University, shared his evaluations on the topic “The Preservation of the Language of the Islamic Scientific Tradition in the Risale-i Nur.” Açıkgenç emphasized the need to clarify what is meant by the Islamic scientific tradition. He explained that tradition refers to the collective customs and practices that develop within a society and guide behavior in a non-random, structured manner. These traditions are learned through observation and experience from early life and are sustained through social continuity. He highlighted that tradition is a reciprocal process, contributing to individuals while also being shaped by them. Although traditions evolve, this change occurs slowly due to their inherently conservative nature. A similar process, he stated, applies to scientific traditions. Scientific activity is conducted within established frameworks inherited from previous scholars and is transmitted through education. The concept of scientific traditions has only recently gained prominence within the philosophy of science.
Prof. Muhammet Gür: “The relationship between language and the soul is like a lock and a key”
Prof. Muhammet Gür, faculty member of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Marmara University, presented a talk titled “Bediuzzaman’s Contributions to the Turkish Language.” Gür described language as a natural means that enables understanding among people and emphasized that the ability to think and express thoughts defines humanity. Referring to Quranic methodology, he explained that the verse “He created man” is followed by references to teaching the Quran, reading, and ultimately expression, indicating that the highest proof of human creation lies in the ability to articulate meaning. He stated that faith itself is not complete without verbal affirmation, as belief must be confirmed by the heart and expressed by the tongue. Therefore, language serves as the interpreter of the heart. Although language differs from the soul, it functions as the key that unlocks the treasure of inner meaning. Gür concluded that the relationship between language and the soul resembles that of a lock and a key, a connection emphasized by Bediuzzaman in Isharat al-Ijaz. For this reason, language is also regarded as a marker of the highest form of artistic expression.
Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Ali Gündoğdu: “The Risale-i Nur emerged from within the people”
Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Ali Gündoğdu, faculty member of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Istinye University, delivered a presentation titled “Narrative Methods in the Risale-i Nur as a Turkish Literary Work.” Gündoğdu referred to Fuad Köprülü’s extensive work on the concept of the masterpiece, in which Köprülü draws heavily on Gustave Lanson and Hippolyte Taine. While Taine defines masterpieces as works that transcend time and Lanson views them as reflections of their era, Köprülü offers a different perspective by arguing that it is often non-masterpiece works that better reflect society. According to Köprülü, masterpieces are usually produced by elite intellectual circles and may not fully capture everyday life. In contrast, other works provide a more accurate social reflection. In this context, Gündoğdu stated that the Risale-i Nur Collection presents a unique case. Although it is a highly scholarly body of work, it emerged from within the people and speaks to both intellectual elites and the broader public. This dual characteristic, he emphasized, grants the Risale-i Nur a significant position within the framework of literary excellence.
Asst. Prof. Nafi Yalçın: “The language of the Risale-i Nur will gain distinction”
Delivering the closing remarks, Asst. Prof. Nafi Yalçın, faculty member of the Department of English Translation and Interpreting at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Üsküdar University, stated that the purpose of the panel was to examine the historical development, cultural richness, and lexical depth of Turkish, as well as to highlight the contributions of Bediuzzaman Said Nursi and the Risale-i Nur to the Turkish language. Yalçın explained that the Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RINAP) was established to conduct national and international academic research on Bediuzzaman Said Nursi and the Risale-i Nur Collection, and to organize academic meetings and educational programs. He emphasized that the panel was organized to benefit from the expertise of distinguished scholars from various universities in the fields of Turkish Language and Literature, Linguistics, Philosophy, Civilization, and Culture. Referring to Bediuzzaman’s Medresetuzzehra Project, Yalçın highlighted its educational language principle stating that Arabic is essential, Turkish is necessary, and Kurdish is permissible. He explained that this approach aimed to conduct religious sciences in Arabic, the common language of Islamic civilization, while using Turkish as the language of science and modern disciplines. The inclusion of Kurdish as a local language, he noted, was significant for fostering national unity, solidarity, and brotherhood.
Concluding with a quotation from the Emirdag Addendum of the Risale-i Nur, Yalçın stated that the Turkish language of the Risale-i Nur is expected to gain distinction in the future, serving as a guiding reference for pure Turkish expression.