The Ottoman Seminars program organized at the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Piriştina City Archive and Museum (APİKAM) brings together many people from Izmir. The reasons for learning Ottoman vary. Participants who are Afro-Turks and want to learn about their roots, who need Ottoman to research old Izmir, and who aim to read old writings belonging to their families are noteworthy.
The Ottoman Seminars organized at the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Ahmet Piriştina City Archive and Museum (APİKAM) bring together many people from different cultures and age groups under one roof. Participants who attend a 3-month seminar as part of the program implemented by APIKAM officer Mehmet Uğur Sağıroğlu become able to read Ottoman texts. The reasons why the Izmirians who attend the seminars learn Ottoman are also noteworthy. Some head to APIKAM to research the roots of Afro-Turks, some their families, and some old Izmir. There are university students among them who want to reinforce their Ottoman knowledge, as well as entrepreneurs who open second-hand bookstores by learning to read old books and documents…
New program starts in April
Mehmet Uğur Sağıroğlu, who shared the content of the seminar program, said, “There was a high demand for Ottoman Seminars. Here, we teach Anatolian Turkish before the 1928 Alphabet Revolution, which also includes Arabic and Persian words. Those who learn this language can read old newspapers, stories, and novels before 1928. Those who participate in the program become able to read an Ottoman story in 3 months. Applications will be accepted next March and our 3-month seminar will start again in April.”
Afro-Turkish citizen learns Ottoman Turkish to examine his roots
There is also an Afro-Turk citizen at the Ottoman Seminars. Beyhan Türkoğlu, who is also the Vice President of the African Culture Solidarity and Assistance Association, stated that knowledge of Ottoman is necessary in the oral history projects and research they carry out as an association. Emphasizing that Afro-Turks have a very long history in Turkey, Türkoğlu said, “Our history in Turkey goes back to the 14th century. Therefore, Ottoman is very valuable in terms of reading the documents we obtain in our research. We have academic friends who do this, but despite this, I also wanted to learn it specifically. We were just looking at the writings and documents on old photographs. We were learning what they were from friends who knew Ottoman. However, I have only started reading them myself now.”
His curiosity about old Izmir taught Ottoman Turkish
Serkan Kasalar, who participated in the seminar program, is also a name that has dedicated himself to researching the history of Izmir. Kasalar, who needed Ottoman Turkish to research old documents, photographs and newspapers, said, “I would like to thank the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and APIKAM for opening such a program. I am someone who researches Izmir before 1922. Some of the photographs, newspapers and documents I have come across are all in Ottoman or Greek. That is why I also attend the Greek course of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mediterranean Language Center. When I saw the Ottoman Turkish program of APIKAM, I thought it would be very useful for me. This program will be useful for me to be able to write a book in the future by evaluating old documents.”
He came to read his father and grandfather's notes
Each of the participants in the program has a different motivation. Mechanical engineer Yavuz Özek states that his interest in Ottoman is not professional, but purely family. Özek, who said that he has wanted to learn Ottoman for years, said, “I come here from Çeşme to learn Ottoman. Both my grandfather and my father studied Ottoman in primary school. I came here to read the writings and notes on the back of the photographs they left behind. It was very useful for me. I thank everyone who contributed. I can now read the old stories and I am very happy.”
Not “Can I do it?” but “I did it.”
APIKAM’s project can also be a significant turning point for some participants. Stating that old manuscripts attract more attention when selling collection books online, Abdurrahman Elvan explained both the process of learning Ottoman and the change he experienced in his business life with the following words: “When I came across APIKAM’s program, I joined the group. With the support of our teacher, my dream became a reality. The business I started on the internet went as far as opening a shop. I opened a second-hand bookseller’s shop in Izmir. In the past, when I came across an Ottoman document or book, I would get help from those who knew. In time, I will be able to read it on my own. This seminar was very useful for us. It gave me energy at the point where I will establish my life. The period when I said, ‘Will I be able to do it?’ has now turned into a process where I start saying, ‘I did it.’”
Sharing old buildings of Izmir on social media
Among the participants is a social media content producer who shares posts about his field on social media platforms. Deniz Eriten, a student of the Architecture Master's Program at Izmir University of Economics, is conducting various researches in Izmir regarding the history of architecture and urban history. Eriten, who has an archive study about Izmir apartments that he has conducted on social media, said, “I decided to learn Ottoman to benefit this study. Knowledge of Ottoman is necessary in early Republican buildings. Ottoman entered my life to examine these types of structures. I am very pleased with the program.”
Students attend to reinforce their lessons
Students from departments where Ottoman language courses are taught are also among those who participated in the program. Manisa Celal Bayar University History Department student Kaan Kuraçay said, “Since the lessons were taught remotely during the pandemic, there were deficiencies in my Ottoman language knowledge. Since I will advance my professional career in this field, I want my foundation to be solid. That's why I registered for the seminar program. I would like to thank APIKAM and our teacher very much. I saw the benefits of the program from the first month, it was very productive.”
“I will pass on old cultural events to my grandchildren”
Retired classroom teacher Gevher Ural's motivation for attending the seminars is to pass on historical information to her grandchildren. Stating that the Ottoman language course she had previously started was closed during the pandemic, Ural said, "I wanted to complete the unfinished work. I would like to thank APIKAM, our teacher and everyone who took the initiative to open the seminar program. I am currently reading Ottoman children's magazines. There are many beautiful cultural events and wise sayings that we can tell our grandchildren. I am here to pass these on to my grandchildren and improve myself."
“I will share what I have learned with my friends”
A participant named İzzet Şeref, who said that he loved Ottoman Turkish very much, said, “I came here upon the recommendation of a friend. It is very productive. We benefit from the vast knowledge of our teacher. We also created a beautiful family picture. I love Ottoman Turkish very much. I will share what I have learned with my friends.”
Free seminar
In the free seminar, people come together every Monday and Wednesday during the training period. In addition to learning basic Ottoman Turkish, participants also learn about words of Arabic and Persian origin. Participants who complete the 12-week seminars are given the Ahmet Piriştina City Archive and Museum Ottoman Seminars Participation Certificate. The application for the program, which will be held again in April, will start in March. Application announcements can be made on APIKAM's social media accounts or http://www.apikam.org.tr can be followed from.
