Comments on: Illegal letters in Turkey http://www.theworld.org/2009/11/25/illegal-letters-in-turkey/ Global Perspectives for an American Audience Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:36:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kurt Webb http://www.theworld.org/2009/11/25/illegal-letters-in-turkey/comment-page-1/#comment-4604 Kurt Webb Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:18:01 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=19586#comment-4604 Using these letters is not a criminal offence in Turkey. You can see them all over as you can see English all over. In the areas where the population is predominately Kurdish the road signs, in both Turkish and Kurdish, even use these letters. But, just like in the US how you can't use ë in your legal name, even though it is part of the Pueblo Indian's alphabet, you can't use X or W in your legal name or in legal functions in Türkiye. I am an American living in Türkiye and my last name has a W in it. There has never been a problem. It is even on my residence permit. The problem has been with my first and middle names. One time on a bus ticket they spelled my name Kot. I imagine though having a "WQX Cafe" might cause trouble getting legally registered though. The problem is that their is a separatist movement that directly threatens the state itself. Anything representing this, like language is seen as a threat. Using these letters is not a criminal offence in Turkey. You can see them all over as you can see English all over. In the areas where the population is predominately Kurdish the road signs, in both Turkish and Kurdish, even use these letters. But, just like in the US how you can’t use ë in your legal name, even though it is part of the Pueblo Indian’s alphabet, you can’t use X or W in your legal name or in legal functions in Türkiye. I am an American living in Türkiye and my last name has a W in it. There has never been a problem. It is even on my residence permit. The problem has been with my first and middle names. One time on a bus ticket they spelled my name Kot. I imagine though having a “WQX Cafe” might cause trouble getting legally registered though. The problem is that their is a separatist movement that directly threatens the state itself. Anything representing this, like language is seen as a threat.

]]> By: Eric Baird http://www.theworld.org/2009/11/25/illegal-letters-in-turkey/comment-page-1/#comment-4351 Eric Baird Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:33:55 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=19586#comment-4351 So, would the selling of "Xmas" cards be illegal in Turkey? So, would the selling of “Xmas” cards be illegal in Turkey?

]]> By: Mark Liberman http://www.theworld.org/2009/11/25/illegal-letters-in-turkey/comment-page-1/#comment-3866 Mark Liberman Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:49:06 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=19586#comment-3866 With respect to Osman Baydemir's prosecution for using the letter 'W' in a new year's greeting ("Newroz Píroz be!" in Kurdish), this report says that "the case is still making its way through the courts". But Baydemir's Wikipedia entry says that "On April 19, 2007, Diyarbakır Peace Court No. 2 dropped the charges since the Ministry of Justice had not permitted that such a case be heard." Which of these statements is true? With respect to Osman Baydemir’s prosecution for using the letter ‘W’ in a new year’s greeting (“Newroz Píroz be!” in Kurdish), this report says that “the case is still making its way through the courts”. But Baydemir’s Wikipedia entry says that “On April 19, 2007, Diyarbakır Peace Court No. 2 dropped the charges since the Ministry of Justice had not permitted that such a case be heard.”

Which of these statements is true?

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