I was impressed. The English “Ch” can be hard for Turks and then, with the “tt” and “e,” it gets even harder. It is not often that foreigners, especially Turks, say my name right.
Turks who can speak more than one language will usually have a brighter future. There is nothing more rewarding than being able to explain a concept or an idea in another language. Knowing more than one language enhances opportunities in every field, whether it be government, business, law, medicine and health care, teaching, technology, the military, communications, industry, social service or marketing. Possibly, though, for some of you it is even more important just to communicate with your boyfriend or girlfriend. It will help you in your cross-cultural friendship or relationship.
I received this letter recently from a foreigner who is moving to Turkey with her Turkish spouse. She writes:
Dear Charlotte, I am so excited about moving to Turkey with my husband and getting to know his friends and family. I must admit I find all the new foreign names to learn overwhelming. Any tips to offer me? From Sam (England).
Dear Sam, I assume that Sam is short for Samantha. Before I give a few tips I want to share a test for Today’s Zaman readers. It is something I stumbled across while surfing the English language learning forums. I totally understand your fear of being able to remember all the new names. I’ll include a few helpful tips.
It’s not just Turkish names that can be overwhelming! Look at this list of foreign names and see how many you can pronounce. When you come across foreign names, do you know immediately how to pronounce them?
For example:
Nicolae , Tache, Fortaleza, Demicjusz, Bollstabruk
Get the point?
I’ve had a lot of friends make their pilgrimage to their ancestor’s country of origin somewhere in Europe to learn more about their roots and their Christian name or surname.
But if you stop and think about it, Turkish first names are intriguing. Let’s look at a few:
Abad means happy or merry.
Abdullah means “God’s servant/slave.” Let me just mention here that there are numerous Turkish male names beginning with “Abd” that are variations on the theme of “God’s servant/slave” -- from Abdi to Abdürrezzak.
Aydın can mean one of the following: an intellectual, enlightened person; well-informed, reflective; bright, well lit; a moonlit night. Though the name Aydın is usually a male name it has been a female name too. The daughter of Kılıç Arslan was named Aydın.
Bağdaş is a male name and it means a friend or a cross-legged seating position.
Barış denotes peace. It is also a female name.
Çağdaş means modern. Male or female? How do you say that Ç and ğ and ş?
Don’t panic! Here is a little help from your friend! Here’s how to pronounce it:
Letter - Pronunciation
I, ı (no dot, even over the lowercase) - schwa (like English "uh")
İ, i (with a dot, even over the uppercase) - English "ee"
other vowels (including those with umlauts)same as in German
J - French "j"
C - English "j"
Ç (with a cedilla off the bottom) - English "ch"
Ş (with a cedilla off the bottom) - English "sh"
Ğ (with a hachek or caret over the top) - silent in modern Turkish
G - always hard as in "get", not as in "gin"
We have all had that moment of memory lapse or forgetfulness. Not being able to remember the names of people you meet and know can be awkward. It’s forgivable if you seldom see the person. What about our work colleagues or other closer acquaintances?
Do you find yourself ducking around corners or scurrying down corridors to avoid individuals? If you continue to forget names others will think you are forgetful, callous or blatantly disrespectful.
Remember:
* Before you start your new job or arrive in the country to meet many relatives, get a list of names and study it.
* If you have a meeting coming up, try to anticipate who will be there and make notes.
* If you are given a business card, read it back to them and let them correct your pronunciation.
* Word association is very important. My favorite is when author, Judy Ayyıldız introduces herself at schools she says she is Mrs. Judy Moon Star. Children love it and remember it.
* In a crunch, turn the tables and prompt someone to introduce themselves.
Names say who we are.
Just remember, practice makes perfect!
