Learn Turkish Through History: The Modernization of the Language

The most important event in the history of the Turkish Language was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s reform. He was the first president of the Republic of Turkiye. In 1923, he began a standardization and linguistic revolution of Turkish Language that helped learn Turkish and the biggest part of the reform was the change in the writing system.

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Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

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To the point, the Turkish Language was written using Arabic letters but this didn’t fit the Turkish Language well. Since the Arabic Alphabet is an abjad (a writing system without vowels), Turkiye needed its own alphabet. So in 1923 Turkish switched to the Latin Alphabet, the same letters used in English. Granted with some modifications to account for pronunciation differences.

"Türk milletinin karakter ve adetlerini tanımak için en yakın müracaat yeri Türkçesidir."

"To understand the character and customs of the Turkish nation, the closest source is its Turkish language."

Today, Turkish people only use the Latin Alphabet. This means that learnes who are native English speakers have a considerable advantage. There are 29 letters in the Turkish Alphabet.

The modernization of Turkish not only shaped the nation’s identity but also made the language more accessible to new learners. Today, thanks to this transformation, it’s easier than ever to learn Turkish and connect with its rich cultural heritage.

Learning Turkish allows you to understand the beauty of Turkish literature, music, and arts, which leads to a deeper appreciation of this fascinating culture. It opens doors to a diverse world, expanding both personal and professional opportunities, and gives you insights into the captivating language and culture of Turkey.