Note on Turkish Transliteration

The modern Turkish alphabet was standardized in 1924 in accor- dance with a revolutionary language reform initiative, and is written in Roman script in an A-to-Z alphabet with the exception of the let- ters “x” and “q.” The English letter “c” is pronounced like the English letter “j,” and the English letter “j” is pronounced like its equivalent in French (i.e., as in the French name “Jacques”). In addition, mod- ern Turkish uses five additional letters to connote common sounds in spoken Turkish:

Ö This vowel signifies a sound that resembles as soft “er” in English. An “o” without the dots above it resembles the sound “o” when saying the let- ter in English. Example: “top” (“ball”) is pronounced “t-o-p” with a clear pronunciation of the “o.” “Döst” (“friend/pal”) is pronounced “d-er-st,” but with a very s oft “r.” Ü This vowel signifies a sharp “ew” in English. A “u” without the dots above it resembles the sound signified by “oo” in English. Example: “süt” (“milk”) is pronounced “sewt.” “Su” (“water”) is pronounced “soo.” I This vowel sound, an “ı” without a dot, signifies a sound similar to soft “i” in English (and “i” with a dot signifies a long “e” in English). Example: “Mısır” (“Egypt”) is pronounced “misser” (not “M-ee-sir”). “Git” (“go”) is pronounced “g-ee-t.” Ç This consonant sound signifies a “ch” sound in English. Ş This consonant sound signifies a “sh” sound in English. Ğ This vowel, which is silent in itself, signifies an elongation of the pre- ceding vowel sound, and thus always follows a vowel. Example: “Ağaç” (“tree”) is pronounced “a-a-ch.”

>> xiii xiv << Note on Turkish Transliteration

Also, when reading a Turkish word, the reader should pronounce every letter according to its sound. Example: “ayakkabı” (“shoe”) is pronounced “a-yak-ka-bı,” with the “ı” pronounced like the “i” in the English world “sir.” Lastly, the Turkish suffix “lar/ler” indicates the plural form. Example: more than one “ayakkabı” (shoe) connotes “ayakkabılar” (shoes).