Learning Journal #2 (SDLC 105)

[Emily Larrabee]

Turkish culture is often described as offering extremes from both Western and Eastern cultures and influences, in part due to the multi-ethnic history of the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish language places a great importance on respecting your elders, respecting and acknowledging a new person with a firm handshake. Because Islam is the major religion in Turkey, some Islamic customs and phrases are used, especially in greetings. In Turkish, there are many different ways to talk about time of the day, each one being very specific and many of them have to do with the sun, which is interesting. Also, specific details about a particular point in time differ based on how often an action takes place, which is different than in English.