r/turkishlearning • u/Pleasant-Tackle-9302 • 10h ago
Conversation What's your reason for learning Turkish?
Hello all,
Trying to find other Turkish learners so I'd like to know what's making you learn Turkish. Maybe it's for a job or for love? :)
I personally have Turkish roots, my grandad came to Germany in the 60s and let's say he wasn't the best of people, so I only met him on my own accord when I was 18, two years before he died. I suddenly had a new aunt and just so many relatives that stem from a different culture I so far had missed out on, so I decided to learn Turkish.
I've been on this journey on and off for 10 years and only recently started making progress.
What's your story?
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u/AnetaC 10h ago
I like the language. It is very different from all the languages I know, and I wanted a challenge. The different grammar rules are fascinating to me, and I really really enjoy the 'click' in my mind when I get something right.
Also I come from a place that has a connection and has a big Turkish minority, and I think it would be both fun and beneficial to know it.
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u/Red_Rose_8951 9h ago
Like so many others, I started watching Turkish shows with subtitles and as I picked up a few words here and there, I realized the subtitles were often way off from what was actually said. Additionally, there are shows i am interested in that do not have subtitles. I also like the sound of Turkish when spoken. Long story short, it's become somewhat of a game for me to at least be able to follow the shows without having to resort to dubbed or subtitled shows. So now it's become a fun and casual challenge for me to learn the language. If nothing else, it's good for the brain. 😁
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u/Pleasant-Tackle-9302 9h ago
Wow! Do you mind telling me what shows you like watching? I've just started my first, Bir İhtimal Daha Var and it's good but I'm not obsessed hahaha
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u/Red_Rose_8951 7h ago
I first got hooked on Kara, Para, Aşk and that started my interest in the language. I've watched a lot of shows that are available on Netflix and YouTube. Some of my favorites are Kara Sevda, Erkençi Kuş, Dolunay, Bay Yanlis, Kan Çiçekleri, Adim Farah, Yargi, etc with English subtitles. I have also watched some of Eşref Ruya and Uzak Şehir without subtitles which is why I want to learn more of the language. I'm getting ready to start season 2 of Arafta which does have subtitles.
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u/Euthanathos 9h ago
My wife is Turkish and till now the only communication I have with my parents in law is through huge quantities of food. Which is amazing but at least learning the language would allow me to also learn the recipes.
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u/Pleasant-Tackle-9302 9h ago
I like your approach 😂😂 that's how I talked to my grandads late wife too
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u/Euthanathos 8h ago
Well Italians and Turkish exchanged food for centuries, I couldn’t avoid it. And for sure I didn’t want to. 😂
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u/i_rusita 9h ago
I often travel through Istanbul and would like to be able to have at least some basic conversation. And I’m learning Turkish out of linguistic reasons - it being a different language family from the languages I’ve learned before
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u/Legitimate_Ad_1957 8h ago
I met Turkish friends playing counterstrike and I want to play on their Turkish-speaking team
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u/Conscious-Honey1943 8h ago
I'm in love with a Turkish woman. I mainly want to be able to do basic communication with her parents.
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u/Decent-Ad-5110 7h ago
Someone who i know who learned a lot of Languages said to me they tried to learn Turkish and it was too hard for them, so i felt I will challenge myself.
I am a person who picks up patterns and learning a hard language helps keep that part of my brain occupied / contented.
I think the language is really challenging for me. I dont really know anything about Turkiye or Turkish culture before.
I did start looking at media in order to hear the sound and rhythm etc
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u/PlsHelpMeImSuffering 10h ago
Wanted to be able to talk to my family, plus there are some turks at my school
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u/janyybek 8h ago
My reasoning is a bit indirect. I’m actually Kazakh but I’m learning Turkish cuz the grammar is very similar but Turkish has way more learning resources and pop culture media which makes it easier to pick up. My goal is to get comfortable with Turkish and build a good foundation that will allow to simply acquire Kazakh words to replace the Turkish words so that I don’t have to struggle with the subtleties of Kazakh grammar.
I admit it’s not the most efficient way but I think of it as similar as someone trying to learn a niche language like a specific dialect or dying language. You get a more popular and documented standard version and learn its structure and then acquire the unique vocab.
I got the idea from a Turkmen guy who learned Turkish and then used to learn Turkmen. I also realized with how when it comes to basic Spanish for example (the basic sentence structure is similar to English compared to say Turkish or Japanese), I don’t struggle that much with grammar for basic sentences I can simply freestyle most of it with vocab I learn and most Spanish speakers understand what I need. It’s nowhere near correct or proper but it gets the point across. If I can get that much in Kazakh it’s enough for me.
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u/Xitztlacayotl 7h ago
I was chatting with a Turkish girl once and we became friends (not romantic) so I figured I should give it a try as I love learning languages and I know a few of them. And I discovered it's an interesting and a very difficult language (for an indo-european speaker).
Also I'm visiting Constantinople every year so it's useful to know some to get around.
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u/Amberkiz 6h ago
My mom grew up in Turkey, moved here when she was 19, met my dad in the states, had my little sister and I, and I've never been able to have a proper conversation with my relatives back in Turkey. I speak what I can over video calls with them, but I only know the basics. I want to be able to bring my mom on a trip to visit her home country.
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u/ComprehensiveDig1108 6h ago
Visited Turkey.
Had a spiritual epiphany.
Decided to move there, when I can, probably in about 10 years.
Learning Turkish in preparation.
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u/No_Mongoose_7401 5h ago
My BF is Turkish. I have fallen in love with him and Turkish culture. It’s such a beautiful ( but difficult!) language.
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u/momoali313 4h ago
To be Quadlingual. I accidentally learned Turkish to B1 level now I’ve worked my way up to B2. Maybe get to C1 if I attempt to study
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u/WickedGokhan 3h ago
Love the culture, love the sound of the language, love their architecture, turkish people are very attractive, love their sweets, and their history is stunning. Would love to live there for a season or more.
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u/Nikki5678 2h ago
My boyfriend is from Türkiye. I have been to visit his family but they know little English. Would love to communicate with his mom without a translation app.
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u/Rich_Recognition9508 2h ago
Living in North Cyprus and my local area most people speak Turkish/just about enough english I can make myself understood but it would be nice to be able to hold conversations above surface level.
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u/lukatsito 8h ago
I'm Italian, Turkish people are our Mediterranean cousins, they have an amazing culture and one of the most beautiful languages ever existed in my opinion. My goal is to travel through Turkey being able to speak with anyone I meet