how many ex pats learn turkish

stelee77


Joined: 06/06/2011
Posts: 557

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 12:34

When i move to the trnc in a few months would it be advised to learn turkish,or even a little before i arrive,i will have plenty of time on my hands if it is worth doing.

How many of you guys bother with it,or is it the case its very hard to learn and you dont need to anyway?



thanks

zcacmxi


Joined: 30/11/2008
Posts: 388

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 12:43

You can get by without it... But if you know it, it may make your life easier (gov offices/banks/etc) and more varied?



Similar situation in the UK: A Cypriot can probably get away with not knowing much English in London, can stick within their own community in North London, read turkish newspapers, watch sat tv, LTR radio, etc...

But if they learn English, they can negotiate better in shops/offices/hospitals/etc and make a wider group of friends?

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 12:49

I don't know any turkish Cypriot in UK that doeas not speak any english,at all.But I know many english here in TRNC that speaks no turkish, at all.



I f you've got it in your head,you'll learn.If you go into 'can't be bothered' mode,like many others,you'll just be another one in 'little britain'.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 12:54

Steve Msg 1 - Well worth it (I wish I would have learnt some and I'm only over a few weeks a year)!

As well as the comment about negotiating and getting help - how can you get into your new society if you can't chat in their language even hello, please and thanks are an immediate help. I envy you the time - use it to learn.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 12:58

Salahi

The Brits are notorious for not learning a second language, they have too many problems of reading, writing and speaking their own native one!

I go with Hans on this one, the Dutch are the most gifted Country that are able to converse in multiple languages!



Richard

mags111



Joined: 17/08/2008
Posts: 251

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 12:58

Go for it. We are living in TRNC and should at least learn the basics. Why should we assume that everyone should speak english?? The locals do appreciate it even when we make mistakes.

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 13:08

I have been here nearly 3 years.Have been learning Turkish for 2 of those years.

I love to speak it,especially the pleasantries.

I can now book,in Turkish,a table for 2 people at 8 o/clock,and order a bottle of red wine !!!



Go for it !!!!!It keeps your brain active,and it is appreciated by the locals.

Deniz1


Joined: 28/07/2009
Posts: 3829

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 13:12

Is that all you can do after two years?

spider


Joined: 03/01/2009
Posts: 5527

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 14:07

I look at it like this most all TCs understand English well enough when they want something ! so if I want something its more or less the same thing.......or they might know a mustafa that has a brother etc ..





Just kidding before someone shouts me down





Spider,X

Jonesy299


Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 367

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 14:23

My wife and I took the trouble to take lessons and have a pretty good working knowledge of the language - it has been invaluable especially with neighbours and officials (they speak English too but it really does 'open doors' and certainly opens hearts). Local workmen / labourers generally speak little or no English and knowledge of Turkish is incredibly useful.

I don't think it makes you any more or any less 'ex-pat' whether you speak it or not... it is just a useful local / life skill.

suehowlittle


Joined: 31/10/2010
Posts: 1202

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 14:46

I love to surprise people by speaking in Turkish. The delight on their faces when you say, (and I am sure I am spelling this incorrectly) Kendene iyi bak. (think it means take care of yourself). Would like to have the correct spelling if possible Yorgo/anyone because phrases like this are not in the books.



Seriously though, I have tried very hard with the language and am delighted when I can learn some new vocabulary. I just learned this week, Baskar and Merdeven. If you want to retain it you will. Building a vocabulary is not enough, I now cannot join my words up in the correct order so will take Turkish lessons this winter. I am over 60 now and spoke German fluently when younger, then when I started to learn Turkish, it seemed that for every new Turkish word I learnt I lost a little German, so my neurons are certainly slowing down a bit!



Come on all you Brits learn the lingo, its a lot of fun and when you get it wrong it just results in gales of laughter!

sylvie


Joined: 12/03/2008
Posts: 1081

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 15:11

the effort to learn the language in the country you live is absolutly necessary, you have to adapt yourself to the people not in the other way round - in france to get the citizenship you have to go through french courses now a day and i believe they should do the same to the new incomers - i met people living in TRNC for 20 years and not speak turkish at all ! disgraceful ! you have everything to gain ! all my friends are speaking english as well - i understand everything but my turkish is not fantastic but i make the effort always always especially when i go to the market and do my shopping - mainlanders do not speak english a lot even not at all - and.... i am not living in TRNC-

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 15:24

For those interested there is a good free on line application where you can learn the language of your choice in a structured way and also interact with native speakers of your chosen language.



http://www.livemocha.com/

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 15:29

I forgot to mention that learning Turkish is different to learning Cypriot Turkish and there are subtle differences between the two languages.

vonny


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 476

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 15:41

ive been married to a TC for more than 30yrs, i know loads of words but its putting them together i still have a problem with,i understand most conversations but find it hard joining in.i blame my crap teacher lol

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 15:53

msg 14....Aj ,If you speak to someone from somewhere like Izmir/Istanbul,, they will tell you the differences are anything but subtle...........

suehowlittle


Joined: 31/10/2010
Posts: 1202

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 16:04

Mess 13, thanks very much, it looks very interesting, especially the fact that you can converse with someone in the language and the bonus for me is that I will also perhaps learn the correct grammar and spellings. I can see me having lots of happy hours in winter with this.

philnles


Joined: 11/08/2008
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 16:13

Have been learning for 18 months now, really interesting and the smiles you get back from the locals when you try a bit of local talk is very rewading. Mind you wifey keeps getting her tasaks mixed up with her baliks! haha

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 16:15

msg 16;

Next time you speak to someone from those mentioned places,ask them to translate this............



"guliyi bagldim isbahoynan gancelliye"................pure turkish Cypriot

suehowlittle


Joined: 31/10/2010
Posts: 1202

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 16:36

Message 19.....and this is Turkish Cypriot dialect meaning what......? Would we dare use it? Would we get a round of applause or a slap?



Please tell us what it means

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 16:47

msg19....Yorg....I am not criticizing, just pointing out that I am told the Cypriot Turkish "Patois" is very different to mainland Turkish..

stelee77


Joined: 06/06/2011
Posts: 557

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 16:56

Thanks everyone.

is it considered a hard language to learn to other latin languages.

could i pay a local to speak with me for a couple of hours each day,drop myself in the deep end,trying to learn from books or an internet program will not work for me,if i look at foreign people in my town they learn quick because they have to,maybe thats the way to do it.

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 16:57

suehowlittle.nearly there kendine iyi bak - take care. My husband now 73 has been learning turkish himself for the last 15 years or so but still finds new words to learn, he tried lessons but found it easier to learn himself and have conversations in turkish when on holiday, when he talks to someone I can usually understand because I know words but can't put them together. The best book he has found is The Turkish Travelmate by Lexus having worn the first one out I have just got a new one from Amazon for £4.99 it has everything you need in it including the phrases. There is a difference in Turkish and Turkish cypriot but he doesn't have a problem in NC.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 16:57

Yorg

Napan bey gardaş?



Brinsley, msg 5

To be fair you have realise; the Dutch need to speak a second language to converse with anyone sensible!

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 17:25

For anyone living here I think it is not only essential but polite to at least learn the basics of the language, I am very lucky in that we live amongst local people and we try to teach each other our native language. We have lots of laughs and there is much waving our hands about but at least we can communicate with each other.

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 17:47

Hatkins, I agree, once you learn to relax, you can have a lot of fun With me using my basic Turkish and them using their basic English, and a lot of sign language, we can generally get across what we mean. The best I thought was when my friend was trying to describe her son's nose bleed. This include slitting her wrists with a knife (not lierally, but you get the gist).

cyprusairsoft



Joined: 22/06/2009
Posts: 2066

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 17:51

please and thank you is enough basic counting and F*** O** is the same the world over

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 17:55

Message 27



Very Useful indeed, so glad to see you are trying to integrate with the local residents.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 17:58

Msg 27

No it's not, though 'jigajig' is!



Richard

vonny


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 476

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 18:13

yorgozlu,i hope you.ve let it go by now lol

Serkan


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 75

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 18:32

kibrislica



http://trnc.blogcu.com/kibrislica-turkce-bazi-kelimeler/1738027

http://www.kadinlarkulubu.com/yurtdisi-paylasim-kktc/49841-kibrislilarin-kelimeleri.html



"gulicikler gancellinin ogunde cillenir"

vonny


Joined: 25/06/2009
Posts: 476

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 18:37

yorgozlu,i was so busy reading your turkish i forgot to read the english part, silly me, lol

zcacmxi


Joined: 30/11/2008
Posts: 388

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 18:41

In short, if you know the language in the country you are in, then you are part of it. You are near the same level as the locals both socially and in business. There are only advantages, and no disadvantages...



If you don't know the language, then you are more an outsider and not on the same level.. There are many disadvantages...

stelee77


Joined: 06/06/2011
Posts: 557

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 19:17

well yes that is very much true.

rejela


Joined: 09/02/2011
Posts: 293

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 19:28

It is suprising the amount of Greek words that are mixed into the Turkish Cypriot language as Yorgoslu has shown in his last post. He is correct in saying that mainland Turks would not be able to understand or translate "guliyi bagldim isbahoynan gancelliye".

I have found this out on several occaisions whilst speaking Turkish, or thinking that I am speaking Turkish, when it is really Cypriot!

When asked if I speak Turkish, I say no Cypriot Turkish.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 20:00

Cyprusairsoft... No it's not and if you don;t agree you can siktir git!

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 20:17

Only those who live here. The rest want to learn Greek or tick there destinations off the list of things to do. Generally find that those who cross the "border" most are those that don't live here (unless to work) and just have and extended holiday life. If you live here then learn Turkish as best you can, being hard of hearing makes lip reading difficult in Turkish but the odd words I have learnt (about 600) can get me by.



One of these bright and happy days I will be able to put three or four together into a proper sentence that sounds right to Turkish Cypriots - instead of sounding like the bloody French Policeman from Alo, Alo.



I will keep at it not because it is fun but because it is the right thing to do and the pleasure of trying far out weighs the feeling of stupidity when I get it wrong.

harita


Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 1343

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 20:18

Groucho .. Wash your mouth out ..



Ingrid taught us that .. Well we asked ..

Arockingace



Joined: 24/01/2011
Posts: 75

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 20:20

I have tried to learn and am getting there! Albeit slowly.

What is frustrating for someone like me, who regularly tries to speak the language, is that the local community always reply in English!! Which is fine, but hinders my learning process a little!!

I'll just have to keep trying!!!

IbrahimAbi


Joined: 24/10/2010
Posts: 245

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 20:26

Other subtle differences, In TRNC there are 13 months in a year, in Turkey only 12

IbrahimAbi


Joined: 24/10/2010
Posts: 245

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 20:42

Grouch you are a real peach

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 20:50

Msg 39

Ditto. Between 18 and 20 years of age, whilst at Varsity, I spent most of my holidays in Holland with my first Dutch fiance and having a few more brain cells than now, tried to learn Dutch, but to no avail. The Dutch just wanted to practice their English on me, telling me there was no point in learning their language! I persisted until my then beloved decided the World would be a better without me! The whole experience was very frustrating!



Richard

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 21:59

Msg 42, I was once told that only the Dutch can speak Dutch (sorry Han's) no other people in the world have enough spit to master the language. I gave up with that one and tried Chineese instead - much easier but far to easy to forget!!!

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 22:08

Waddo

Surely that's phlegm-ish?

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
14/06/2011 22:59

Only thing I ever learnt was a phrase that sounded like "Hoist your briefs", maybe Han's can give you the correct saying but I never got further than that - Norwegian was even worse and all I ever learnt of that was "Tak".



Like the phlegm-isg, just about right there.

niceone


Joined: 08/06/2011
Posts: 60

Message Posted:
15/06/2011 00:43

Learning some turkish helps when haggling at markets, when they realise you are not a tourist you can get a better price

efendioliver



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 545

Message Posted:
15/06/2011 00:46

masa for iki @ sekiz saat und uno sise kirmizi plonk two years !!!!!!!!!! read this in a harry hill accent

efendioliver



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 545

Message Posted:
15/06/2011 00:48

mike lapta was only a joke hope you see the funny side of it

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
15/06/2011 00:51

Msg 47

Now I know why you have so many happy customers leaving your restaurant, it's all those mountain herbs you use in your unique cuisine!



Richard

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
15/06/2011 00:51

msg 40;



provided by Turkey.



Talk about buttering up Cypriots!...........I wander why.....................

efendioliver



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 545

Message Posted:
15/06/2011 00:54

keep it at the top brinsley



my god! 00.53hrs she will kill me. better get to bed have to shop for the restaurant in the morning

heard they have some great cep mushrooms in. need to stock up for tomorow night... !!! cant wait

goodnight brinsley

phylray



Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
15/06/2011 01:24

I learnt some Turkish when I went to work in Istanbul. It was a necessity (and a pleasure) as none of the

shops spoke English and it is amazing how quickly you learn when you have to!

The children I taught were always thrilled to hear you speak some of their language, as were the adults.

Cypriot Turkish is a little different but my niece who is of Turkish origin understands them well enough.

I know that Cyprus has some different words too.

It is certainly useful too when dealing with workmen etc. who rarely have more than a smattering of any other language.

zihni007


Joined: 11/06/2011
Posts: 85

Message Posted:
15/06/2011 01:57

v good point guys