Zeitschrift für die Welt der Türken (Dec 2016)
THE IMPACT OF TRANSLATION WORKS AS AN ENCOUNTER AND INTERACTION TOOL OF CULTURES ON TURKISH CULTURE
Abstract
Culture is not only a set of beliefs and behaviors that separates a nation from others, but it is also a mirror which shows identity of the community. This common belief, feeling and thinking style is also reflected in the nation's fine arts and literature. Literature, by transferring culture to future generations through language, helps communication and realization of social integration. In line with the changes in society, the way of living and expectations of the human-being, which is the main subject of literature and the way which culture is handled change. National language creates a national culture; and national culture results in the concept of the national state. Therefore, stronger the bonds between the communities and their history and culture, richer and more closed to negative effects are the elements that feed the living culture. The changes that took place in the social structure of the Ottoman state in 19th century led to new developments in administration, economics, education as well as in the fields of culture and literature. Efforts towards modernization, which began with the concept of Westernization, put the literary scholars at a crossroads between the eastern customs and the translations made from the West. Translated works were seen as a bridge between Turkish society and the advanced countries in terms of culture and civilization. However, changes in cultural values such as customs and traditions, sense of humor, morals, also created negative impacts on Turkish culture. This study, which tries to demonstrate changes in social and cultural values of the Turkish society as a result of these influences, is based on translated texts starting from Tanzimat Period. We report the synthesis of cultural elements of the translated works with elements of Turkish culture.
