Turkish Language Policy Through the Lens of Identity Debate

Abstract

This study analyzes the language policy in Turkey and the political behavior of the proponents of the language reform, Kemalist modernists and opposing groups, Turko-Islamic traditionalists. It also aims to suggest a new theoretical perspective in that, unlike orthodox theories of the field that posit the state to the center stage in political analyses, it holds that the best way to understand the political phenomena is to place national actors acting based on their norms and identities at center stage. In this regard, it is argued that the Turkish language is yet to be consolidated and that the clash of norms and identities, lack of compromise, and mutual exclusion of the 'others' among the domestic actors, namely among Kemalist modernists and Turko-Islamic traditionalists, are the most important causes for the catastrophic nature of the Turkish language. This study will consist of four parts. The first part examines the modernist language policy that was shaped through Kemalist norms and identity during the single-party era. The second part analyzes the traditionalist norms and identity(s) and explores the reasons behind Turkist-nationalist and Islamist challenges to the modernist, reform movement. The third part is about the clash of modernist and traditionalist norms and identities in the' multi-party era and investigates the uncertainty and turmoil of the modernist reform movement during the period from 1950 to 1983. The forth part analyzes the shift that occurred in 1983, when the Turkish Language Spciety was nationalized and its control passed from modernists to Turkist-nationalists and explores the new traditionalist policy measures based on their norms and identity being implemented in this era. The study ends with a concluding remark.

Özet

Bu çalışma, Cumhuriyet dönemi Türk dil politikasını ve Kemalist modernistler ile Türk-İslam gelenekçilerinin siyasal davranışlarını irdelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Keza, devleti siyasal analizlerin merkezine oturtan siyaset bilimindeki Ortodoks yaklaşımlara karşın; bu çalışma norm ve kimlik odaklı hareket eden elit gruplarını analizlerin merkezine oturtmak kaydıyla, yeni bir teorik açılım getirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu bağlafnda,Türk dilinin hala konsolide bir dil haline gelemediği ve dilin şekillenememesinde modernist Kemalistler ile gelenekçi Türkçü ve İslamcı gruplar arasındaki norm ve kimlik bağlamlı tartışma ve çatışmaların, oydaşmaya varamayan ve karşılıklı birbirlerini dışlayan davranışlarınını en önemli nedenler olarak karşımıza çıktığı ortaya konulmaya çalışılacaktır.