Why Learn the Turkish Language in India?

Why Learn Turkish of all the options? If you are undecided about whether or not you should study the Turkish language in India, this article might help you. Read along!

History of Turkish Language

Turkish (Türkçe), the westernmost of the Turkic languages, belongs to the Turkic branch of the Altaic language family. Turkey, by landmass, is positioned 95% in Asia and 5% in Europe. The oldest written records are found upon stone monuments in Central Asia, in the Orhon, Yenisey, and Talas regions within the boundaries of present-day Mongolia.

They are the eighth century AD Orkhon inscriptions by the Göktürks, recording the Old Turkic language, which was discovered in 1889 in the Orkhon Valley in Mongolia. When the Turkish spoken in Turkey is considered in a historical context, it can be classified according to three distinct periods:

1. Old Anatolian Türkiye (old Ottoman – between the 13th and the 15th centuries)
2. Ottoman Türkiye (from the 16th to the 19th century)
3. 20th century Modern Türkiye

It has many dialects such as Danubian, Dinler, Edirne, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Karamanli, Razgrad, Rumelian, Urfa. Modern Standard Turkish is based on the variety spoken in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city.

The Turkish-Speaking population of the world

It is the official language of Turkey and one of the official languages of Cyprus. It is spoken as a native language by over 80 million people worldwide.

Other than Turkey and Northern Cyprus, there are sizable populations of Turkish speakers in Macedonia, Kosovo, and most countries bordering Turkey, such as Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Albania, Iran, Syria, Iraq and other parts of Eastern Europe, the Balkans and in the Caucasus. Most of these countries were part of the territory formerly governed by the Ottoman Empire.

There is also a sizeable Turkish immigrant/Diaspora community in many countries such as Germany, USA, Australia, Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Belgium, Russia, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Saudi Arabia, etc. It is the second most widely spoken language in Germany. Another 15 million people across the world speak as a second language.

Reasons to Learn The Turkish Language in India

1. Widely Spoken in Eastern Europe, Balkans, and the Caucasus

It is one of the world’s 15 most commonly spoken native tongues. There are large communities of speakers in the Balkans and the Caucasus and huge Turkish immigrant communities in Western Europe. It is the most widely spoken Turkic language, a language family that also includes Azerbaijani, Uzbek, Kazakh, Uyghur, Turkmen, Tatar, Kyrgyz, to name a few.

Since Turkish is mutually intelligible (Means they are closely related to each other to a large extent with a few exceptional) with other Turkic languages. Speaking will allow you to communicate with people from Turkey to the Yakut region of Siberia and be understood the whole way. Worldwide about 100 million people can speak altogether (Native, Non-Native, & those who are learning it).

Considering that over 35 Turkic languages are spoken in the region, strategically connected, geographically and culturally, and the region’s growing geopolitical importance. Thus, the ability to talk to Turkish is an advantage when it comes to international business, trade, and political affairs.

2. Career and Job Options After Learning Turkish in India

India has historical relations with Turkey, and that relationship resulted in influencing the cultures of both nations. Language builds the bridge between governments, and hence, it would strengthen people to people contact between both countries.

A few years back, Turkish was gaining popularity in India. However, Currently, the relation between the two countries is neither friendly nor hostile to each other. The problem with Turkey is a failure to detach its relationship with India to its ties with Pakistan.

India is Turkey’s second-largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region after China. India-Turkey bilateral trade was 7 billion USD last year, and it has enormous potential to grow. Turkey and India are also making moves to increase trade and direct investment between the two countries. Knowledge of Turkish can be hugely advantageous for anyone doing business with Turkish companies or planning to work or study in Turkey.

There are lots of Turkish jobs in India. Many big companies like Oracle, Infosys, TCS, HCL, American Express, and Turkish Airways are looking for Turkish specialists. Many Turkish business groups are exploring opportunities in India. The ability to speak Turkish Language in India will open a wide door of career opportunity.

Major Indian exports to Turkey are cotton, chemicals, steel, mobile handsets, clothing, and apparel. Turkey’s exports to India include automotive parts, textile machinery, and steel, among several food items.

Some 200 Indian companies, such as TATA Motors, Wipro, Reliance, Polyplex, GMR Infrastructure, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ispat, Aditya Birla Group, Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd., Jain Irrigation, and Dabur, have either invested directly or established joint ventures (JVs) in Turkey.

There are very few who are proficient in the Turkish Language in India. Learning the language can give you a rare skill and make you an in-demand specialist. Skilled teachers, translators, and interpreters are finding their services in higher demand.

There are numerous benefits of learning foreign languages in India. However, choosing the right foreign language is the most crucial step.

3. Learn Turkish for Travel

Turkey is a fascinating and beautiful country to visit. In 2017, Turkey attracted around 36 million foreign tourists, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Sunny beaches, calm seas, Incredible mountains, delicious and amazing cuisines, flourishing markets, richly Archaeological sites, excellent museums, mystical natural landscapes, transcontinental city, exotic baths are some of the reasons to visit this beautiful country. Turkey is opening its doors to India in a bid to encourage trade and tourism between the two countries. 

As per the Ministry of foreign affairs – the Republic of Turkey, About 131,000 Indian tourists visited Turkey in 2015, and the number is only going to move northward by 2020.

If you are planning a holiday in Turkey, Traveling through a foreign country becomes much easier if you can speak the language of that country. Fluency isn’t compulsory. Locals, however, always appreciate that you’ve taken the time to at least attempt to learn and communicate in their tongue. It shows a higher level of respect and is an easy way to meet new people.

When you move to a different country, learning the local language will help you to communicate, and integrate with the local community. Acquiring knowledge in India or abroad will help you to find lots of jobs, business, and travel opportunities.

Turkish Language Courses in India

It is not as popular as French, Spanish, or German, or like East Asian languages, Japanese, Mandarin, and Korean. Currently, there are not many Colleges or language institute that offers Turkish language program in the area of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and other parts of India.

Embassy of Turkey was planning to open a cultural center in New Delhi to promote Turking language, literature, culture in India. Going forward, there will be more learning centers for the Turkish Language in India.

I will keep you updated once I find some more information. There are several websites where you can study online. 

1. Turkish Classes in Delhi — Jamia Millia Islamia

Students can pursue the Turkish language courses at Jamia Millia Islamia. The JMI offers three years of Full-time BA (Hons.) in Turkish language & Literature. Besides, the center also offers a one-year certificate, diploma and advanced diploma in Turkish — LINK

In recent years, Jamia has emerged as one of the most prominent centers among all the Indian Universities, especially in the field of Turkish Language and specialization in its literature. Jamia is the only university in India to offer a bachelor’s degree course in the language under its Faculty of Humanities and Languages.

The Centre is a unique seat of Turkish learning in India. It covers the entire gamut of language, literature, history, culture, and civilization of Turkey, and erstwhile Ottoman World. It focuses on its various academic programs covering undergraduate, and part-time courses.

2. Gauhati University

The Gauhati University offers Advance Diploma Course in Turkish. The minimum eligibility is Graduates in any discipline from any recognized University having 40% in Major (honors) and 45% in General Course. The total intake capacity is 20.

Read — (i) Arabic Courses in Delhi (ii) Learn Persian in Delhi (iii) Scope of Arabic Language (iv) Why Learn Farsi? (iv) Arabic, Persian, or Turkish? (v) Levels of Language Proficiency (vi) Which Language to Learn?