Why Learn Turkish of all the options?
This article might help you if you are undecided about whether or not you should study the Turkish language in India. Read along!
Table of Contents
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:
- Old Anatolian Türkiye (old Ottoman – between the 13th and the 15th centuries)
- Ottoman Türkiye (from the 16th to the 19th century)
- 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.
Turkish-Speaking population Worldwide
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 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 significant Turkish diasporas in many countries such as Germany, the USA, Australia, Netherlands, the UK, France, Denmark, Belgium, Russia, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and Saudi Arabia.
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 Turkish in India
1. Widely Spoken in Eastern Europe, Balkans, and 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 includes Azerbaijani, Uzbek, Kazakh, Uyghur, Turkmen, Tatar, Kyrgyz, and a few more.
Since Turkish is mutually intelligible to a large extent (and some exceptions too) with some 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 in Turkish is an advantage when it comes to international business, trade, and political affairs.
2. Career and Jobs After Learning Turkish
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 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 language specialists.
Many Turkish business groups are exploring opportunities in India. The ability to speak the 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 language teachers, sales executives in export houses, content writers, proofreaders, guides, translators, and interpreters are finding their services in higher demand.
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.
Sunny beaches, calm seas, Incredible mountains, delicious cuisines, flourishing markets, archaeological sites, excellent museums, mystical landscapes, lively cities, exotic baths are some of the reasons to visit Turkey.
Turkey is opening its doors to India to encourage trade and tourism between the two countries.
As per the Ministry of foreign affairs – the Republic of Turkey, About 230,000 Indian tourists visited Turkey in 2019, and the number is only going to move northward by 2025.
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 it if you take 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 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.
You may be interested → (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) Movies to Learn Turkish (vi) Iranian Cinemas for Learning Persian (vii) Best Arabic Films
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. Learn at Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
Students can pursue the Turkish language courses at JMI.
The university offers three years of the 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.
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.
Jamia is the only university in India to offer a bachelor’s degree in the language under its Faculty of Humanities and Languages.
2. Gauhati University
The Gauhati University offers Advance Diploma Course in Turkish.
The minimum eligibility is Graduates in any discipline having 40% in major (honors) and 45% in general course. The total intake capacity is 20.
Sir, I am interested to learn the Turkish language for research work. I am conducting on the region. I hail from Kolkata. Kindly, let me know how can I opt for learning Turkish?
I’m not aware of any Turkish learning center in Kolkata. Maybe you can try to learn through some books and online resources.
Sir, I am in class 11th. I opted for humanities and now I further want to study linguistics. Can you suggest some career opportunities in this field? I also want to be a lecturer. So, can you tell me about your experience of becoming a lecturer?
After completing the language courses, my intention was to work in any MNC as a translator. But my life took some turn, and I became a teacher. My personal experience have been remarkably good. I had an opportunity to meet thousands of students from different spheres of life. I gained immense experience in dealing with people effectively. It gave me the chance to be continuously creative, more humble, get better in salary, as well as, knowledge, and recognization. Being a University lecturer, it always gives me satisfaction and allows me to have enough spare time for productive work, including writing.
Is there any place to learn the Turkey language in Chennai?
Not in my knowledge.
Is there any online platform that gives certified training in Turkish language-speaking?
Not in my knowledge.
Hi, I am learning Turkish as I’m very much interested. Could you tell me how I may integrate it with my career? I’m in the migration sector and is it feasible opening up a migration agency in Turkey?
There are several rules and laws regarding the immigration industry. I don’t frequently track it. You can consult an expert in the concerned field.
Is the Turkish embassy had started the Turkish language course in New Delhi?
Not in my knowledge!
Have you started Turkish classes in Mumbai?
Well, I don’t offer any course in Mumbai.
Turkey is not an Arabic country. And we don’t have camels or other Arabic things in Turkey.
Of course. Arabic has nothing to do with the Arab world. The same has been stated here.
What if you want a Ph.D or MA degree in Turkish language?
As far as i know, No Indian Universities offer MA or M.Phil or Ph.D. degree in Turkish language.
Where to study Turkish language?
There aren’t enough options for Turkish course. Find some teacher through local classified sites or search for online courses. Jamia offers various short-term and BA (Hons.) in Turkish.
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Thanks a lot for the information
Thank you so much. Good information