What is the Turkish Language Association? What is the purpose of the establishment of the Turkish Language Association?

What is the Turkish Language Association (TDK)?

Turkish Language Association, The Turkish Language Association (TDK), as it is briefly called, is a state institution established on July 12, 1932, by order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with the aim of developing and studying the Turkish language. 
The first name of the Turkish Language Association was "Turkish Language Research Society".. The institution's headquarters are in Ankara. The current president of the Turkish Language Institute is...“Prof. Dr. Gürer Gülsevin”" is.

At the end of the First Turkish Language Congress, held at Dolmabahçe Palace between September 26 and October 5, 1932, it was decided that the Institution would continue its work in six branches under the names "Lexicography-Terminology, Grammar-Syntax, Compilation, Linguistics-Philology, Etymology, and Publication".

Atatürk himself, by examining domestic and foreign research on the Turkish language, encouraged the scholars of his time to conduct research on the Turkish language. Indeed, the first two volumes of the Göktürk inscriptions, the oldest monuments of the Turkish language, were published during his lifetime; work on works such as Divanü Lügati't-Türk and Kutadgu Bilig, which were published in the 1940s, also began during his lifetime. Work on the Scanning and Compilation Dictionary, which would later appear in many volumes, also began during Atatürk's lifetime.

The Tarama Sözlüğü (Scanning Dictionary) and Derleme Sözlüğü (Compilation Dictionary) are large dictionaries created by scanning old works of Western Turkish, beginning in the 13th century, and compiling words used in Anatolian dialects, respectively. Studies on the grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and terminology of contemporary Turkish were also closely followed by Atatürk.

With the establishment of the Turkish Language Association, the movement towards purification of the Turkish language began in modern Turkish, spearheaded by Atatürk.

In his will, written shortly before his death, Atatürk bequeathed a portion of his assets to the Turkish Language Association and the Turkish Historical Association. However, Atatürk's will was violated in 1983 when these institutions were nationalized.

With the Constitution adopted in 1982, which is still in force today, the Turkish Language Association and the Turkish History Association were nationalized and placed under the umbrella of the Atatürk Culture, Language and History High Council, a constitutional body, thus ending their status as associations.

Turkish Language Association (TDK) founding objectives

What is the purpose of the establishment of the Turkish Language Association and what activities does it carry out?

Established at Atatürk's request The aims and activities of the Turkish Language Association. there is.

The Purpose of Establishing the Turkish Language Association:

  • To promote the use of Turkish words by eliminating foreign words that have not been adopted by the public.
  • To ensure that written language and spoken language are the same.
  • To bridge the differences between spoken language, written language, and scientific language.
  • Investigating the origins of the Turkish language.
  • By showcasing the richness of the Turkish language, we aim to increase the prestige of the Turkish language worldwide.
  • To make Turkish an effective and rich language in scientific and economic fields as well.

As can be seen from here The purpose of establishing the Turkish Language Association (TDK), Our aim is to contribute to the development of the Turkish language. 

NOTE: The Turkish Historical Society and the Turkish Language Society were established in accordance with Atatürk's principle of nationalism.

Who were the first founders of the Turkish Language Association?

The first founders of the Turkish Language Association, These are Samih Rif'at, Ruşen Eşref, and Celal Sahir.

Who was the first president of the Turkish Language Association?

Samih Rif'at was the first president of the Turkish Language Institute.