BU-TÖMER Discussions II - “Panel Discussion on Yunus Emre and Turkish: World Language”
TÖMER
Date: 04 August 2021

BU-TÖMER Discussions II - “Panel Discussion on Yunus Emre and Turkish: World Language”

In accordance with the circular issued by our Presidency, it has been decided that the year 2021 will be celebrated as “The Year of Yunus Emre and Turkish: World Language”. Aiming to teach Turkish to foreigners and promote the Turkish culture around the world, as BU-TÖMER, we organised a discussion with our esteemed teachers, the experts of the subject, on a better understanding of Yunus Emre, the leading figure of the Turkish language. 

The session began with the opening speech delivered by the moderator, Asst. Prof. Ali ŞEYLAN, Director of BU-TÖMER.

Following the opening address; our guest, Prof. Fatma AÇIK, a faculty member at the Department of Turkish and Social Sciences Education of Gazi University’s Faculty of Education, delivered the first speech explaining the relationship between the “language and identity”. She stated that just as there are many characteristics to distinguish one person from another, there are many characteristics to differentiate between nationalities, and language is one of the most important factors to establish a social identity.

Afterwards, Prof. Münevver TEKCAN, a faculty member at the Department of Turkish Language and Literature of Kocaeli University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, lectured on “From Ahmet Yesevi to Yunus Emre: Those Who Talk from the Heart”. In her speech, Prof. Münevver TEKCAN mentioned the prominent figures who had major contributions to the Turkish language and their key attributes. Then she talked about the developments across the world and Turkey, providing the attendants with valuable information.

The last speech was delivered by Prof. Önder GÖÇGÜN, a faculty member at the Department of Turkish Language and Literature of our University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and it covered “Yunus Emre’s Love of Turkish Language”. He pointed out the fact that the most important feature that brought Yunus Emre to the present time is his love of humanity and the Turkish language, which made it possible what he expressed in his poems did not lose its importance even today. 

The discussion ended after the q&a part of the session.