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Index / Languages
  Turkey /
Languages
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*) All figures above are estimates, due to the lack of independent data. Real figures may differ substantially.
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The development of Turkey into a national state has caused the cleansings of three peoples with history deeper than the Turkish presence in Anatolia (see genocide of Armenians and Assyrians and cleansings of Greeks). The Turkish constitution clearly states that "No language other than Turkish shall be taught as a mother tongue to citizens of Turkey at any institution of training or education" (article 42).
The situation for minorities in Turkey has been difficult and remains difficult, even if Turkish membership aspirations with the European Union, has resulted in some reforms.
Today, 79% has Turkish as first language, Kurdish about 15%. Other large languages count Zazaki, which many classify as a Kurdish language; Circassian; Arabic; and Azerbaijani. Zazaki is mainly spoken in southeastern Anatolia, Circassian in the central mountains of Anatolia, Arabic is spoken in the south, close to the border to Syria, while Azerbaijani is spoken in the eastern parts of Anatolia.
Turkish Armenians mainly live in Istanbul, taking refugee in the most cosmopolitan and tolerant climate in the country.
Other languages are yet not taught in Turkish schools, and even universities that teach in multiple foreign languages do not offer courses in any Turkish minority language. In recent years separate language schools have in principle been allowed following pressure from the EU, but Turkish bureaucracy have done its very best in making this impossible. Broadcasts in non-Turkish languages began very late, in 2000's, and remains highly disproportionate to the size of the minorities. Armenian. (see Armenian Genocide).
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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