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Turkish Language and Literature Conference 2013

Within the scope of 'to search our cultural values, customs, traditions and spiritual values that raised us in our culture, and our Turkish language, support, protect, keep alive and promote researches', which is one of the main purposes of the Elginkan Foundation, various activities have been organized until today regarding Turkish language, literature, Turkish culture in short. We also have published reference books in these subjects.  Young researchers in these areas have been supported with scholarships, and scientists with awards.

Providing financial support to meetings organized regarding the Turkish culture by various institutions, corporations and universities, our Foundation decided to organize Turkish Language and Literature Conference biennially starting from 2013.

Leading names of our world of culture and literature and Chairman of the Elginkan Foundation Gaye Akçen, Manager of the Elginkan Foundation İlhan Üttü and members of the Elginkan Community joined the conference, which was organized for the first time in Marmara University Sultanahmet Campus Prof. Dr. Nihat Sayar Conference Hall between April 17-19 2013.  Changes and developments faced by Turkish language throughout the period starting from its oldest times and extending until today, and predictions regarding the future were made in the conference, subject of which was determined as 'Turkish from the Past to the Future'.

In the conference, which was organized in eight sessions for three days, various subjects such as problem of today's Turkish language, language structure, Turkish education, formation of Turkish terms in science and art branches and exemplary pronunciation of Turkish were discussed, 28 reports were presented and 2 open sessions were organized. Conference started in April 17 2013 with the open session 'Turkish in Language of Art'. It started with in theatre, cinema and radio open session. Changes, which we have experienced but haven't been able to notice in the recent past regarding the language used radios and televisions, which are a more widespread mass media, were expressed and evaluated.

Changes occurring in daily language, and threats, dangers towards our language and solution methods were discussed in the sessions which started in the same day. It was expressed by participators that the language, which is a living being, were subjected to change within time and this was a natural and inevitable process.

Various reports regarding the structure of Turkish and grammar were presented in sessions in the second day. Reports presented regarding Turkish education, including speaking Turkish, pronunciation and teaching Turkish to foreigners were discussed in the last day.

'Turkish from the Past to the Future' open session was organized at the end of the conference. In the open session, in which a general evaluation of the conference was made, development process from Bengü Taşlar (Orkhon Inscriptions),which are the oldest known written texts of Turkish, until today was emphasized.

Conference ended with vote of thanks of the Elginkan Foundation Manager İlhan Üttü. In his speech, İlhan Üttü expressed his targets regarding organization of the second Elginkan Foundation Turkish Language and Literature Conference at international level and in a more comprehensive form in 2015.