Turkish Language Program

Interested in learning Turkish?

Turkish language acquisition is the basis for future study of the politics, history, literature, and culture of modern Turkey, the Ottoman Empire, and Eurasia (the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia). Turkish is spoken in the Republic of Turkey and in parts of Bulgaria, Greece, areas of former Yugoslavia, and Cyprus. It is closely related to Azeri and Central Asian languages including Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tatar, Turkmen, Uzbek, Uighur and others spoken from the Balkans to northwestern China and southern Siberia.

The Republic of Turkey is a bridge between Europe and the Middle East. Its population is 70 million, most of which is Muslim. Turkey is a candidate for membership to the European Union. As it is an ideal case for the study of Islam and democracy, nationalism, identity, and cultural revolution, it attracts students from Political Science, Cultural Anthropology, History, International Comparative Studies, and Asian & African Languages and Literatures.

Study Abroad?

Duke in Turkey began in Summer 2005. This program is scheduled to be expanded for 2006. For information see http://www.duke.edu/philosophy/istanbul/. For more general information see http://www.aas.duke.edu/study_abroad/.

Turkish Minor?

Duke has instituted a new Turkish minor for undergraduates. The requirements include taking a total of 5 credits, two of which must be language and three of which must be at the 100 level or higher. There are a number of courses offered at Duke in Public Policy, History, Literature, International Comparative Studies and Cultural Anthropology that relate to Turkey and the region.

Contact Information:

Turkish Studies Program
Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies
316 Languages Building
Box 90259
Durham, NC 27708-0259
goknar@duke.edu

First-year registration, summer contact: Erdag Goknar, goknar@duke.edu, 919-660-3151

Han Avlusu
Halil Pasa, late 19th century