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'LANGUAGE FOR PEACE' IMPROVES (GRASSROOTS) ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS
Today's Zaman
March 2 2012
Turkey
Kevork GalloÅ~_yan, an Ä°stanbul-based instructor of and lecturer
in the Armenian language at Kadir Has University told me: "I wish to
teach about culture and life.
In Armenia, people do learn about Turkey, but here in Turkey,
there is hardly any updated information available; with this in
mind, I use language as a medium to teach about Armenian culture,
too." A thought-provoking conversation began about multiculturalism,
cross-cultural learning and how ordinary Armenian and Turkish citizens
could come together more closely.
We met at his university's campus overlooking the Golden Horn
shortly before last Tuesday's annulment by France's Constitutional
Court of the criminalizing genocide denial law. He came across as an
enthusiastic academic and researcher, but also as someone who has not
lost touch with the chores of everyday life and reality. Perhaps it is
related to his two key areas of research -- Armenian linguistics and
literature, coupled with a strong interest in all things Turkology --
which necessitates a more down-to-earth approach as he is confronted
by the needs of both academic and non-academic future speakers of the
Armenian language, as this particular course is offered to learners
from outside of Kadir Has University, too!
Actually, I was told straightaway it is more correct to say that he
teaches one of the two linguistic forms of the Armenian language, i.e.
Eastern Armenian. I learned that these two varieties, namely Eastern
and Western Armenian, are rather different from each other. What's
more, speakers of Eastern Armenian do not automatically speak Western
Armenian. Eastern Armenian has de facto become the official language
of the Republic of Armenia and is often referred to simply as
"Armenian." For this reason, he said, "As there is no appropriate
text-book on the market which allows for the teaching of Eastern
Armenian in Turkish, I prepare all class materials myself."
His work as a lecturer in Turkey's financial capital, Ä°stanbul, is
most definitely an example of his university's engagement in civil
society dialogue. Learning a foreign language does not have to cost
a fortune: Kadir Has University, at least for the time being, does
not charge a fee to the 18 students currently enrolled. The students
attend class twice a week, a five-hour-long class, and only pay for
photocopies and hand-outs. The university opened its doors to this
undertaking to the general public and attracts would-be Armenian
language aficionados ranging from 20 to 50 years of age and a mix of
professional and academic backgrounds.
Mr. GalloÅ~_yan stated that "the fact that we now have 18 students
is a significant increase from the previous semester. Last term was
our first; we expect that enrollment numbers will continue to rise
come next autumn."
Upon my question of why he chose such an undertaking, I heard that
one of his key interests is analyzing cross-cultural paradigms and
in particular, the cultural paradigm inherent in language teaching.
>From what I understand, his class -- whilst primarily a linguistic
exercise -- may result in so much more, as it aims to build bridges
between both peoples. However, building these bridges between the
civil societies of two countries will not materialize by means of
offering one language course only. Well aware of this fact, he hopes
for copycats, more exchange programs to and from Armenia (such as a
recent journey by Turkish filmmakers to Armenia), more bilateral trade
and in general terms, a climate of much-improved mutual friendship.
In connection with the above-mentioned decision by the French
Constitutional Court, it seems that now is the right moment to once
more give the platform not just to both countries' politicians,
but to both countries' civil societies, too!
At a time when a number of other nations try -- or in the case
of France after Tuesday night, hopefully "have tried" without a
re-run -- to blame Turkey for historical events without allowing
for a proper analysis by historians first, civil society, in
this case represented by a young Armenian academic who symbolizes
Armenian-Turkish understanding, sets standards. My hope is that many
more citizens follow in his and Kadir Has University's courageous
"Language for Peace" project's footsteps!
Today's Zaman
March 2 2012
Turkey
Kevork GalloÅ~_yan, an Ä°stanbul-based instructor of and lecturer
in the Armenian language at Kadir Has University told me: "I wish to
teach about culture and life.
In Armenia, people do learn about Turkey, but here in Turkey,
there is hardly any updated information available; with this in
mind, I use language as a medium to teach about Armenian culture,
too." A thought-provoking conversation began about multiculturalism,
cross-cultural learning and how ordinary Armenian and Turkish citizens
could come together more closely.
We met at his university's campus overlooking the Golden Horn
shortly before last Tuesday's annulment by France's Constitutional
Court of the criminalizing genocide denial law. He came across as an
enthusiastic academic and researcher, but also as someone who has not
lost touch with the chores of everyday life and reality. Perhaps it is
related to his two key areas of research -- Armenian linguistics and
literature, coupled with a strong interest in all things Turkology --
which necessitates a more down-to-earth approach as he is confronted
by the needs of both academic and non-academic future speakers of the
Armenian language, as this particular course is offered to learners
from outside of Kadir Has University, too!
Actually, I was told straightaway it is more correct to say that he
teaches one of the two linguistic forms of the Armenian language, i.e.
Eastern Armenian. I learned that these two varieties, namely Eastern
and Western Armenian, are rather different from each other. What's
more, speakers of Eastern Armenian do not automatically speak Western
Armenian. Eastern Armenian has de facto become the official language
of the Republic of Armenia and is often referred to simply as
"Armenian." For this reason, he said, "As there is no appropriate
text-book on the market which allows for the teaching of Eastern
Armenian in Turkish, I prepare all class materials myself."
His work as a lecturer in Turkey's financial capital, Ä°stanbul, is
most definitely an example of his university's engagement in civil
society dialogue. Learning a foreign language does not have to cost
a fortune: Kadir Has University, at least for the time being, does
not charge a fee to the 18 students currently enrolled. The students
attend class twice a week, a five-hour-long class, and only pay for
photocopies and hand-outs. The university opened its doors to this
undertaking to the general public and attracts would-be Armenian
language aficionados ranging from 20 to 50 years of age and a mix of
professional and academic backgrounds.
Mr. GalloÅ~_yan stated that "the fact that we now have 18 students
is a significant increase from the previous semester. Last term was
our first; we expect that enrollment numbers will continue to rise
come next autumn."
Upon my question of why he chose such an undertaking, I heard that
one of his key interests is analyzing cross-cultural paradigms and
in particular, the cultural paradigm inherent in language teaching.
>From what I understand, his class -- whilst primarily a linguistic
exercise -- may result in so much more, as it aims to build bridges
between both peoples. However, building these bridges between the
civil societies of two countries will not materialize by means of
offering one language course only. Well aware of this fact, he hopes
for copycats, more exchange programs to and from Armenia (such as a
recent journey by Turkish filmmakers to Armenia), more bilateral trade
and in general terms, a climate of much-improved mutual friendship.
In connection with the above-mentioned decision by the French
Constitutional Court, it seems that now is the right moment to once
more give the platform not just to both countries' politicians,
but to both countries' civil societies, too!
At a time when a number of other nations try -- or in the case
of France after Tuesday night, hopefully "have tried" without a
re-run -- to blame Turkey for historical events without allowing
for a proper analysis by historians first, civil society, in
this case represented by a young Armenian academic who symbolizes
Armenian-Turkish understanding, sets standards. My hope is that many
more citizens follow in his and Kadir Has University's courageous
"Language for Peace" project's footsteps!