Turkish Studies Program
The Turkish Studies program at Binghamton University is housed in the Department of Middle Eastern and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (MEAMS), and also has strong ties to the History Department. The program has a dual emphasis on modern Turkish language and culture, and Ottoman Turkish language and history. Turkish and Ottoman language courses count towards fulfillment of the language requirements for many programs, including the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Studies minor. All TURK courses can be used to fulfill the elective requirements for the MENA minor or the Arabic major. In addition, Turkish Linguistics is a 300-level course that can count towards fulfillment of the upper-division requirements for the linguistics major or minor.
Coursework
Language offerings include Elementary Modern Turkish (two semesters), Intermediate Modern Turkish (two semesters) and Ottoman Turkish (one semester). Topics courses in Turkish studies include Modern Turkish Literature in Translation, Turkish Media and Pop Culture, and Turkish Linguistics.
Some courses to consider in your first year:
- TURK 111 - Elementary Modern Turkish I
Modern Turkish is a member of the Altaic language family and the successor of Ottoman Turkish. Today the standard form of Turkish is referred to as Istanbul Turkish. Other modern Turkic languages are spoken in Moldova, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, and Turkmenistan, and they have many common features with modern Turkish as spoken in Turkey. The course teaches all skill areas; listening comprehension, speaking, reading comprehension, and writing.
- Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate
- TURK 112 - Elementary Modern Turkish II
This course builds on TURK 111 and raises proficiency in all relevant language skills: speaking, writing, reading for comprehension, and listening for comprehension. There continues to be an emphasis on speaking, both inside and outside the classroom, with a view to increasing the comfort level of students in conversational Turkish. As in TURK 111, authentic listening and reading materials will be employed, with level-appropriate activities. Written exercises building on students' first-semester foundation, and seeking to take students' writing skills to the next level, will figure prominently in the course. Pre-requisite TURK 111.
- 4 Credits
- Spring Only
- Levels: Undergraduate
- TURK 203 - Intermediate Modern Turkish I
Modern Turkish skills are further developed through speaking inside the classroom, interaction with native-speaker language partners, reading authentic texts containing more complex structures than in the first year, watching and listening to authentic on-line materials such as news broadcasts and television dramas, and writing short weekly essays. Awareness of the distinctive features of Turkish culture is developed through all of these means. The grammar focus is on complex structures (reported speech, relative clauses, etc.). Pre-requisite TURK 112 or equivalent.
- 4 credits
- Offered every other fall
- Levels: Undergraduate
- TURK 204 - Intermediate Modern Turkish II
Modern Turkish skills are further developed through speaking inside the classroom, interaction with native-speaker language partners, reading authentic texts containing more complex structures than in the first year, watching and listening to authentic on-line materials such as news broadcasts and television dramas, and writing short weekly essays. Awareness of the distinctive features of Turkish culture is developed through all of these means. The grammar focus continues to be on complex structures (reported speech, relative clauses, etc.). Pre-requisites: TURK 203 or equivalent.
- Offered in Spring
- 4 credits
- Levels: Undergraduate
- TURK 480A - Topics in Ottoman Turkish
Topics in Ottoman Turkish. Topics vary by semester offered.
- 4 credits
- Levels: Undergraduate
Omid Ghaemmaghami
Associate Professor/Co-Undergraduate Director - Arabic Studies
Middle Eastern and Ancient Mediterranean Studies
