Benefits of Learning Turkish

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!

History of the Turkish Language

Turkish (Türkçe) is the westernmost Turkic language and belongs to the Turkic branch of the Altaic language family. By landmass, Turkey is 95% in Asia and 5% in Europe.

The oldest written records are found on stone monuments in Central Asia, in the Orhon, Yenisey, and Talas regions within present-day Mongolia boundaries.

They are the eighth-century AD Orkhon inscriptions by the Göktürks, which record the Old Turkic language 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, including Danubian, Dinler, Edirne, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Karamanli, Razgrad, Rumelian, and Urfa. Modern Standard Turkish is based on the variety spoken in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city.

Turkish-Speaking population Worldwide

It is Turkey’s official language and one of Cyprus’s official languages. 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 are also significant Turkish diasporas in many countries, such as Germany, the USA, Australia, the Netherlands, the UK, France, Denmark, Belgium, Russia, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and Saudi Arabia.

It is the second most widely spoken language in Germany, and 15 million people worldwide speak it as a second language.

Reasons to Learn Turkish 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, as well as substantial Turkish immigrant communities in Western Europe.

It is the most widely spoken Turkic language, and it is a language family that includes Azerbaijani, Uzbek, Kazakh, Uyghur, Turkmen, Tatar, Kyrgyz, and others.

Since Turkish is mutually intelligible to a large extent (and some exceptions, too) 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.

About 100 million people worldwide can speak it, including Natives, Non-Natives, and those who are learning it.

Over 35 Turkic languages are spoken, the region is strategically connected geographically and culturally, and its geopolitical importance is growing.

Thus, the ability to talk in Turkish is advantageous in international business, trade, and political affairs.

2. Career and Jobs After Learning Turkish

India has historical relations with Turkey, and that relationship has influenced the cultures of both nations. Language builds the bridge between governments, and hence, it strengthens people-to-people contact.

A few years back, Turkish was gaining popularity in India. However, the relationship between the two countries is neither friendly nor hostile.

The problem with Turkey is a failure to detach its relationship with India from 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 the relationship has enormous growth potential.

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 many Turkish jobs in India. Many big companies, such as 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 to career possibilities.

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.

Very few people in India are proficient in Turkish. 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 find their services in higher demand.

3. Learn Turkish for Travel

Turkey is a fascinating and beautiful country to visit. In 2017, It attracted around 36 million foreign tourists, making it 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, and exotic baths are 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 will only 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.

Learning the local language can help you communicate and integrate with the local community when you move to a different country.

Acquiring knowledge in India or abroad will help you find many jobs, business, and travel opportunities.

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Turkish Language Courses in India

It is not as popular as French, Spanish, or German such as East Asian languages Japanese, Mandarin, and Korean.

Currently, there are not many Colleges or language institutes offering Turkish language programs in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and other parts of India.

The Turkish embassy was planning to open a cultural center in New Delhi to promote the Turkish language, literature, and traditions in India.

In the future, there will be more learning centers for the Turkish Language in India.

I will update you once I find 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 full-time BA (Hons.) in Turkish language and literature. 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 Turkish language and its literature specialization.

The Centre is a unique seat of Turkish learning in India. It covers language, literature, history, culture, Turkey’s civilization, and the erstwhile Ottoman World.

Jamia is the only university in India that offers a bachelor’s degree in the language under its Faculty of Humanities and Languages.

2. Gauhati University

The Gauhati University offers an advanced diploma course in Turkish.

The minimum eligibility is to Graduate in any discipline with 40% in the major (honors) and 45% in the general course. The total intake capacity is 20.