Türkiye'de Harf Devrimi Öncesinde Basına Yansıyan Görüşler

This research study aims to display the opinions about the dilemma between the use of Latin or Arabic alphabet in Turkey. The problem about the approval of the replacement of Latin alphabet or existing problems about the use of Arabic letters in Turkey were always in question starting from and onwards Tanzimat period. At this point, we see two different perspectives. First one was to continue the use of Arabic alphabet; the other was replacement of Arabic letter with Latin alphabet. Yet, both parts commonly agreed on the problem of the difficulty about learning the existing alphabet in use by then. Therefore, even the ones who supported to maintain the use of Arabic Alphabet had the opinion of a modification process. Opposite view endorsed the replacement with the Latin Alphabet instead of the modification. Those who were against changing the culture of the letters it would cause a degradation while advocating the cause of backwardness in education, which showed favorable. Finally, two different opinions on the core issues of the conflict area have formed this. This problem has attracted the attention of the press for a long time. Intellectuals, then, put forward their ideas on the issue particularly by publishing their views in the press. Such discussions that emerged in the Tanzimat period had been accelarated during the second part of Constitutional period. They lost their pace during the World War I. Yet, after winning the indepence war, the issue was put into the agenda, and finally, Latin Alphabet was approved on November 1, 1928.