Turkish Language Festival observed in central Anatolia

By Mehmet Cetin

KARAMAN, Turkey (AA) - Turkey Monday celebrated the Turkish Language Festival in Karaman, a central Anatolian province where Turkish was first declared official language by a Turkic dynasty.

In 1277, Mehmet I of Karaman declared Turkish as the official language of the Karamanid Dynasty.

“The powerful civilizations are based on a powerful language,” Karaman Governor Fahri Meral told a crowd in a ceremony marking the 742th anniversary of the declaration of Turkish.

Meral said Turkish language has played a significant role in maintaining national unity and solidarity.

Hailing the initiative of Mehmet I of Karaman, Meral also underlined the efforts of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founding father of Turkish Republic, in developing Turkish language.

He said protecting Turkish language from the adverse effects of other languages should be a priority for both the government and Turkish people in compliance with Ataturk’s will.

The Turkish language spread friendship, fraternity, love and justice among Turkic communities throughout history, Meral said.

It must be the common aim of Turkish people to help their language acquire the place it deserves in science, art and literature across the world.

Located in south-central Anatolia, currently Karaman in Turkey, the Karamanid Dynasty was one of the most powerful Turkic dynasty in the 13th century.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar