Turkey plans to change the name by which it is known internationally from Turkey to “Türkiye”.
The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that the new name “represents and expresses the culture, civilization and values of the Turkish nation in the best way”.
According to the BBC, however, the change means much more than a difference in pronunciation.
But why does Turkey want to put aside a name that has been used for 100 years?
Some say that the change is aimed at not confusing the country with turkey (which in English is also “turkey”), as well as with the alternative definition of the word that exists in dictionaries and means “something that fails completely”.
“The association with the turkey is something that really bothers Erdogan and those around him,” said Selim Koru of the Foreign Policy Research Institute.
According to the BBC, this step is not surprising, given the government’s sensitivity to how Turkey is perceived, as well as its tendency towards nationalist rhetoric.
“This, of course, is at the heart of this policy as well. [Δηλαδή] “The argument that the word Türkiye reflects the eternal spirit of Turkey better than the English word,” Koru notes.
As Turkey seeks to strengthen its international footprint – from military operations to popular TV series – the government is becoming increasingly cautious about the country’s image.
“It’s part of this new dynamic and strong Turkey – as they imagine it. “They really want to form a new Turkey on the international stage and all this is part of this ‘package’,” Koru explains.
According to reports, Turkey is expected to submit its new name to the UN in the coming weeks.
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