Radley Balko: Noticed English-speaking Euro announcers are using the Turkish spelling and pronunciation of Turkey. This is a new thing, no? Seems fine, though they aren’t calling Germany “Deutschland,” for example. Just curious what prompted the change.

Noticed English-speaking Euro announcers are using the Turkish spelling and pronunciation of Turkey. This is a new thing, no? Seems fine, though they aren’t calling Germany “Deutschland,” for example. Just curious what prompted the change.

It was an official request from the Turkish government- they’ve done the same in the diplomatic world.

Yeah, the question isn't why the Euro broadcasters are doing it, it's why the American news outlets haven't done the same. IMO most take their cues from the AP, which doesn't typically move quickly.

Strange … though I’m watching it on Dutch tv (where it’s always been Turkije) I think the BBC were still using Turkey.

I didn’t realize anyone pronounced Turkey any differently until I started learning Dutch and idk why but my brain just accepted the logic that they were pronouncing it that way because they were playing the Netherlands lmao

It's only in sporting competition etc...like czechia as well. Not in the official diplomatic situations from what I read.

I still call it Turkey because fuck Erdogan.

Sounds like typical nonsense from the extremist political party there.

Dutch speakers here all using Turkije and same in French I think.

French is "Turquie". Which sounds *slightly* more correct than "Turkey", but is still cutting short the final vowel.

Ah yes, that makes sense. I’m in Belgium but mostly use Dutch at work so wasn’t sure. (We have lots of Turkish clients.)

"nobody's business but the Turks"

www.npr.org/2022/06/03/1...

Turkey changes its official name to Türkiyewww.npr.org The Turkish government is asking that the country be called by its Turkish name, a change which the United Nations has now adopted.

Lmao not the whole article still referring to it as Turkey I for one am a fan, Türkiye is much nicer. Turkish, Türkiye. Nice.

Thank you for this. I had missed this news at the time and had been wondering where the new spelling came from. Greatly appreciated.

I'm imagining the discussion at Fox Sports about the change, with one guy resisting the change before he gets convinced. He says, "As God as my witness, I thought 'Turkey' would fly."

👏 👏 👏

It’s part of erdogan’s nationalist project

New for a major tournament for them. Also Czechia rather than Czech Republic.

I think “Czechia” is a convenience, like “U.S.” The official Czech name is still Česká republica.

I still don't know how to pronounce it, though

Turkey officially changes name at UN to Türkiyewww.theguardian.com United Nations says request from Ankara has been accepted with immediate effect

“Turk-ee-a,” like Austria or Albania.

It would be nice, if that is the pronunciation, if it could be spelt like austria etc in english as well. You know, using the alphabet for common intelligibility. Instead of requiring people to memorise something like its a symbol. Independent of it’s not like we call China zhongguo in English.

Grump grump grumble grumble

U.S. gov officially uses Türkiye now

Germany just doesn't want to seem pushy, internationally, for some reason.

Mag verwundern, aber bei manchen Sachen sind wir einfach mal entspannt

Of course, just using an old trope for the sake of (attempted) humor.

I think in the case of Germany it’s a matter of national pride that every language has its own wacky name for the country

As somebody noted, it's the Turkish (Turkiyesh?) government's thing. Same with Czechia, BTW. We don't mind if Turkey calls us Amerika Birleşik Devletleri rather than 'United States of America', I bristle slightly when told how to say a country's name in English in casual use.

But we're still the Czech Republic! You can call us either way. But I guess Czechia is more natural for non-diplomatic uses.

I thought I'd read recently that the current government in Prague was pushing for 'Czechia' vs. 'Czech Republic' and it was some political signaling thing. Though 'Czechia' is shorter in casual use for sure!

I’ve noticed it showing up in style guides too. Hasn’t Turkey been pretty assertive in recent years that Turkiye is correct and Turkey is wrong? I don’t think, eg, Germany does that

That's because your name for my country isn't also the word for a bird. And besides, the Turks are a little bit thin-skinned.

Erdogan had some bad turkey.

Erdogan *is* bad Türkiye

I suspect it has to do with official standards passed by Turkey. Germany says the English spelling and pronunciation of their country is Germany, so they respect that. Turkey may have changed their policy as part of the right wing extremist laws passed.

it's funny how susceptible to soft bigotry of low expectations & paranoia i've become regarding press complicity with power, when i hear that extra roll to the R in nicaragua, etc. maybe they're listening to voices on the ground more, or maybe it's govt. funded junkets? check their tote bags

Except a single r isn’t rolled unless it begins a word, so what you’re hearing is hyperforeignism, like adding an eñe to habanero.

EXACTLY

German Radio and the website is showing it as Tükrei and pronouncing it that way too. Interesting the contrast with English. Did Türkei only request the change on English?

Crap, typo should be Türkei in both places

Seems like it. We still also call it "Turecká republika" in diplomatic usage and "Turecko" for short.

Good grief! The US State Department is still using Burma instead of Myanmar. Must be a sign of their disapproval towards the junta. www.state.gov/on-the-situa...

On the Situation in Burma’s Rakhine State - United States Department of Statewww.state.gov The United States is deeply troubled by the reports of increased violence and intercommunal tension in Rakhine State, including reports of towns being burned and residents, including Rohingya, being d...

I’ve seen the same in a holiday company’s TV ads.

They were tired of getting late-night calls for the bird. (I started seeing them ID as Turkiye over 20 years ago, and hesitate to guess how much farther it might have been, but hadn't seen that catch on.)

Woke caused the change Just kidding

Well shit now I gotta hit up my Turk so I say it right.

I’d respect it from anyone BUT Turkey. I have a bias.

I always liked the concept of calling places by their chosen name and wish it was the norm. But I'm not going to be the prick walking around talking about my vacation to Roma and Firenze until more folks are doing it, too.

Yeah it can be fun to put a bit of extra spice on Roma or Milano. German has some odd place names, like Mailand! (Milan). Given that all these places have their own name for the United States or Germany, this one way "correction" seems a bit annoying.

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