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Breaking with longstanding apply, the State Division will use the Turkish authorities’s most well-liked spelling, Türkiye, as an alternative of Turkey, a spokesman stated on Thursday.
The spokesman, Ned Worth, stated the U.S. Board on Geographic Names had authorised the brand new identify, which the State Division will use in “most formal, diplomatic, and bilateral contexts,” and in “public communications.”
Mr. Worth was requested in regards to the change at a information convention after The Associated Press reported it on Thursday. He stated the choice had been made in response to a request from the Turkish Embassy, including that different U.S. authorities departments and companies had already begun utilizing the brand new spelling.
Turkish folks have referred to their nation as Türkiye (pronounced tur-KEE-yeh) because it was established in 1923 after the autumn of the Ottoman Empire. The Anglicized model of the nation’s identify has been the norm for the remainder of the world for many years.
The State Division’s resolution took place six months after Turkey officially changed its name to Türkiye at the United Nations.
For a number of years, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has publicly opposed using the Anglicized spelling for his nation and has pushed for the remainder of the world to make use of its Turkish-language identify. In April 2021, he signed a memorandum saying that Türkiye greatest represented Turkish tradition and historical past and must be used because the nation’s identify in all languages. Export merchandise must be printed with the phrase “Made in Türkiye,” not “Made in Turkey,” the memo suggested.
“The phrase “Türkiye” symbolizes and conveys the Turkish nation’s tradition, civilization, and values in one of the simplest ways attainable,” the memo stated, including that the spelling ought to exchange different spellings utilized in different nations, together with “Turkei” and “Turquie” in addition to “Turkey.”
Final 12 months, the state broadcaster’s English-language outlet, TRT World, promoted a video marketing campaign referred to as “Hiya! Türkiye” to lift “world consciousness” in regards to the rebrand. One video reveals folks repeatedly utilizing the nation’s Turkish-language identify.
Erdağ Göknar, an affiliate professor of Turkish and Center Japanese research at Duke College, stated that whereas “Turkey” is seen as a “holdover” from a colonial order, using “Türkiye” is seen as emphasizing nationwide company and pleasure.
“‘Turkey’ was seen as being an outsider appellation with an imperial and colonial legacy,” Professor Göknar stated. “Not least of all, the affiliation with the chook was accepted as a denigrating legacy of a bygone period.”
The State Division has beforehand adopted identify adjustments requested by different nations, together with Swaziland, which in 2018 modified its name to the Kingdom of Eswatini, or Eswatini.
As of Thursday afternoon, the State Division had not updated its website with Turkey’s new identify.
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