20. Today in 1920s Turkey: 17 September 1928 (Disseminating Knowledge of the New Alphabet)

(My Alphabet #12, Cumhuriyet, 17 September 1928, no. 1566, page 1.)

Comments:
This is the twelfth installment of a series of “panels” aimed at teaching the new alphabet to the readers of the newspaper Cumhuriyet or “Republic.” As mentioned in an earlier post, in August 1928 a new “Turkish” alphabet was devised based on Latin letters. This newly minted phonetic alphabet was slated to replace the Arabic alphabet (used to transcribe the Turkish language since the tenth century) in all official communications, signage, publications, contracts, etc. on 1 December 1928. Citizens were expected to spend time learning the new alphabet during the three months leading up to this definitive reform. Newspapers and journals were especially invested in making sure their readers were staying on course for this transition. If their readers do not learn the letters then they will stop buying newspapers once they become illegible in December. Thus, there was financial incentive for newspapers to aid consumers in making this adjustment.

“How to Write Numbers” is the twelfth installment of Cumhuriyet’s multi-episodic mini-series called “My Alphabet.” The explanation of the program and instructions on how to work through the lessons is included at the top in Arabic/Ottoman letters and below are images paired with Turkish words inscribed in the new “Turkish Alphabet.” The directions cleverly instruct readers to cut these panels out of the newspaper, collate them into booklets, and give them away to those who still need to learn the new letters. In addition to featuring these types of “lessons” newspapers also included mixed-alphabet columns and other news stories during these months. A quick glance at the complete front page of this issue of Cumhuriyet will illustrate how at this early phase in the adoption process the new letters were regularly employed in the transcription of headlines.

English:
My Alphabet: How to Write Numbers
These sequentially included panels are only intended for those who have no familiarity with the new Turkish letters. Those who follow and complete the panels in their correct order will fully learn to read and write the new Turkish letters. Our readers will do good if they cut these out of the newspaper and give them to those who don’t know how to read and write. And [this way] they will have spread [knowledge of] our new letters.
(The right to publishing these panels together as a book are protected)

Türkçe:
Benim Alfabem: Sayılar Nasıl Yazılır
Sırayla dercettiğimiz bu levhalar yeni Türk harflerini hiç tanımayanlara mahsustur. Levhaları sıra ile takip ve ikmal edenler yeni harflerimizle yazıp okumayı suret-i kat’iyede öğrenirler. Karilerimiz bunları gazeteden keserek okuma yazması olmayanlara verirlerse çok iyi yaparlar. Ve yeni harflerimizi taammüm etmiş olurlar.
(Bu levhaların kitap halinde neşri hakkı mahfuzdur )

(Entire front page, Cumhuriyet, 17 September 1928, no. 1566, page 1.)