TDK plans to offer more foreign Turkologists’ works in Turkish

The Turkish Language Association (TDK) has provided more momentum for a project launched in 2003 intended to translate more works by foreign Turkologists into Turkish.

Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Professor Nevzat Gözaydın, the TDK’s Project Assessment Board head, said the society has decided to translate all works by foreign Turkologists into Turkish regardless of the original language they were written in. Stating that they have monthly meetings with TDK President Professor Şükrü Akalın and Professor Cengiz Tosun from Çankaya University to examine these works, Gözaydın said the project is being carried out by the TDK and financial support is being provided by the State Planning Organization (DPT).

Noting that they are working with experts experienced in the area of Turkology and who are proficient in both the language of the foreign sources and Turkish, he said they currently have draft translations and completed works in their hands. “Many scholars who are interested in Turkology, in particular those from Germany, England, Russia, France, Italy and other European countries, have conducted much research on Turkish and have published their work in their own languages. It is a must to publish them in Turkish as well. However, for years these works were left untranslated for various reasons. We will understand the value of these works only after they are translated into Turkish,” he said. In accordance with the project, the Project Assessment Board decides who will translate the works based on their experience and proficiency. After a trial translation, the board officially assigns the task to the translator if they are found to be proficient.

Source: www.todayszaman.com