How to solve the language problem in Ankara Turkey?
I will start studying my Master at Ankara, Turkey soon. I don't know the language and I receive strange behaviors when asking help in English:
For example,
1) I start with Merhaba (Hello in Turkish) to warm up the conversation then I ask in English then they titter;
2) I start with asking "Do you speak English?", the response is normally "no" sometimes with a little anger.
3) And when I directly ask my question in English some of them try to help e.g. showing directions with hands speaking Turkish with slow rate but I can't get most of the conversation as I don't know the language, and a majority of people answer the question in Turkish in a wired manner that they suppose as if I am a native-Turkish-speaker. (why??!)
Non of the mentioned problems happen when I am inside the university.
I am supposed to live in here for at least two years so getting a taste of the culture and understanding the people is very important to me and I would be very much happy if I can avoid any unintentional disrespect. How can I handle this situation especially the language problem?
PS With all honestly I am confused: On one hand, sometimes I am meeting very friendly people in Turkey I can't imagine they possibly have unkind intentions. On the other hand, the problem shouldn't be from my side because I didn't see similar behaviors traveling in neighboring countries (supposedly be similar cultures) e.g. Iran or Georgia and non of the mentioned problems happen within the Turkish university that I want to study in.
turkey language-barrier english-language
asked 5 hours ago
A Schizotypal AngelA Schizotypal Angel
162
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I will start studying my Master at Ankara, Turkey soon. I don't know the language and I receive strange behaviors when asking help in English:
For example,
1) I start with Merhaba (Hello in Turkish) to warm up the conversation then I ask in English then they titter;
2) I start with asking "Do you speak English?", the response is normally "no" sometimes with a little anger.
3) And when I directly ask my question in English some of them try to help e.g. showing directions with hands speaking Turkish with slow rate but I can't get most of the conversation as I don't know the language, and a majority of people answer the question in Turkish in a wired manner that they suppose as if I am a native-Turkish-speaker. (why??!)
Non of the mentioned problems happen when I am inside the university.
I am supposed to live in here for at least two years so getting a taste of the culture and understanding the people is very important to me and I would be very much happy if I can avoid any unintentional disrespect. How can I handle this situation especially the language problem?
PS With all honestly I am confused: On one hand, sometimes I am meeting very friendly people in Turkey I can't imagine they possibly have unkind intentions. On the other hand, the problem shouldn't be from my side because I didn't see similar behaviors traveling in neighboring countries (supposedly be similar cultures) e.g. Iran or Georgia and non of the mentioned problems happen within the Turkish university that I want to study in.
turkey language-barrier english-language
asked 5 hours ago
A Schizotypal AngelA Schizotypal Angel
162
New contributor
A Schizotypal Angel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I will start studying my Master at Ankara, Turkey soon. I don't know the language and I receive strange behaviors when asking help in English:
For example,
1) I start with Merhaba (Hello in Turkish) to warm up the conversation then I ask in English then they titter;
2) I start with asking "Do you speak English?", the response is normally "no" sometimes with a little anger.
3) And when I directly ask my question in English some of them try to help e.g. showing directions with hands speaking Turkish with slow rate but I can't get most of the conversation as I don't know the language, and a majority of people answer the question in Turkish in a wired manner that they suppose as if I am a native-Turkish-speaker. (why??!)
Non of the mentioned problems happen when I am inside the university.
I am supposed to live in here for at least two years so getting a taste of the culture and understanding the people is very important to me and I would be very much happy if I can avoid any unintentional disrespect. How can I handle this situation especially the language problem?
PS With all honestly I am confused: On one hand, sometimes I am meeting very friendly people in Turkey I can't imagine they possibly have unkind intentions. On the other hand, the problem shouldn't be from my side because I didn't see similar behaviors traveling in neighboring countries (supposedly be similar cultures) e.g. Iran or Georgia and non of the mentioned problems happen within the Turkish university that I want to study in.
turkey language-barrier english-language
asked 5 hours ago
A Schizotypal AngelA Schizotypal Angel
162
New contributor
A Schizotypal Angel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I will start studying my Master at Ankara, Turkey soon. I don't know the language and I receive strange behaviors when asking help in English:
For example,
1) I start with Merhaba (Hello in Turkish) to warm up the conversation then I ask in English then they titter;
2) I start with asking "Do you speak English?", the response is normally "no" sometimes with a little anger.
3) And when I directly ask my question in English some of them try to help e.g. showing directions with hands speaking Turkish with slow rate but I can't get most of the conversation as I don't know the language, and a majority of people answer the question in Turkish in a wired manner that they suppose as if I am a native-Turkish-speaker. (why??!)
Non of the mentioned problems happen when I am inside the university.
I am supposed to live in here for at least two years so getting a taste of the culture and understanding the people is very important to me and I would be very much happy if I can avoid any unintentional disrespect. How can I handle this situation especially the language problem?
PS With all honestly I am confused: On one hand, sometimes I am meeting very friendly people in Turkey I can't imagine they possibly have unkind intentions. On the other hand, the problem shouldn't be from my side because I didn't see similar behaviors traveling in neighboring countries (supposedly be similar cultures) e.g. Iran or Georgia and non of the mentioned problems happen within the Turkish university that I want to study in.
turkey language-barrier english-language
turkey language-barrier english-language
asked 5 hours ago
A Schizotypal AngelA Schizotypal Angel
162
New contributor
A Schizotypal Angel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
A Schizotypal AngelA Schizotypal Angel
162
New contributor
A Schizotypal Angel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
A Schizotypal AngelA Schizotypal Angel
162
New contributor
A Schizotypal Angel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
A Schizotypal AngelA Schizotypal Angel
162
asked 5 hours ago
A Schizotypal AngelA Schizotypal Angel
162
162
New contributor
A Schizotypal Angel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
A Schizotypal Angel is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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One way you can help these situations is:
- Start by asking whether they speak English, in Turkish. I don't know any Turkish, but Google Translate says it's "İngilizce biliyor musunuz?" Make sure you get the pronunciation correct enough, so you don't end up asking whether their hovercraft has any eels.
- If the answer to the first question is no, then learn enough basic Turkish to conduct whatever business you need (purchasing goods, asking directions, etc).
answered 4 hours ago
Greg HewgillGreg Hewgill
25.6k26897
Google Translate is actually right (it means "do you know English?"). It's basically pronounced like "ingliz-jay bili-yor moo-soonooz"
– Crazydre
4 hours ago
1
Another good sentence might be, "I'm sorry but I don't speak Turkish."
– mkennedy
4 hours ago
I am flagging this record because it is scratched.
– Robert Columbia
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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active
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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active
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votes
active
oldest
votes
One way you can help these situations is:
- Start by asking whether they speak English, in Turkish. I don't know any Turkish, but Google Translate says it's "İngilizce biliyor musunuz?" Make sure you get the pronunciation correct enough, so you don't end up asking whether their hovercraft has any eels.
- If the answer to the first question is no, then learn enough basic Turkish to conduct whatever business you need (purchasing goods, asking directions, etc).
answered 4 hours ago
Greg HewgillGreg Hewgill
25.6k26897
Google Translate is actually right (it means "do you know English?"). It's basically pronounced like "ingliz-jay bili-yor moo-soonooz"
– Crazydre
4 hours ago
1
Another good sentence might be, "I'm sorry but I don't speak Turkish."
– mkennedy
4 hours ago
I am flagging this record because it is scratched.
– Robert Columbia
2 hours ago
add a comment |
One way you can help these situations is:
- Start by asking whether they speak English, in Turkish. I don't know any Turkish, but Google Translate says it's "İngilizce biliyor musunuz?" Make sure you get the pronunciation correct enough, so you don't end up asking whether their hovercraft has any eels.
- If the answer to the first question is no, then learn enough basic Turkish to conduct whatever business you need (purchasing goods, asking directions, etc).
answered 4 hours ago
Greg HewgillGreg Hewgill
25.6k26897
Google Translate is actually right (it means "do you know English?"). It's basically pronounced like "ingliz-jay bili-yor moo-soonooz"
– Crazydre
4 hours ago
1
Another good sentence might be, "I'm sorry but I don't speak Turkish."
– mkennedy
4 hours ago
I am flagging this record because it is scratched.
– Robert Columbia
2 hours ago
add a comment |
One way you can help these situations is:
- Start by asking whether they speak English, in Turkish. I don't know any Turkish, but Google Translate says it's "İngilizce biliyor musunuz?" Make sure you get the pronunciation correct enough, so you don't end up asking whether their hovercraft has any eels.
- If the answer to the first question is no, then learn enough basic Turkish to conduct whatever business you need (purchasing goods, asking directions, etc).
answered 4 hours ago
Greg HewgillGreg Hewgill
25.6k26897
One way you can help these situations is:
- Start by asking whether they speak English, in Turkish. I don't know any Turkish, but Google Translate says it's "İngilizce biliyor musunuz?" Make sure you get the pronunciation correct enough, so you don't end up asking whether their hovercraft has any eels.
- If the answer to the first question is no, then learn enough basic Turkish to conduct whatever business you need (purchasing goods, asking directions, etc).
answered 4 hours ago
Greg HewgillGreg Hewgill
25.6k26897
answered 4 hours ago
Greg HewgillGreg Hewgill
25.6k26897
answered 4 hours ago
Greg HewgillGreg Hewgill
25.6k26897
answered 4 hours ago
Greg HewgillGreg Hewgill
25.6k26897
25.6k26897
Google Translate is actually right (it means "do you know English?"). It's basically pronounced like "ingliz-jay bili-yor moo-soonooz"
– Crazydre
4 hours ago
1
Another good sentence might be, "I'm sorry but I don't speak Turkish."
– mkennedy
4 hours ago
I am flagging this record because it is scratched.
– Robert Columbia
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Google Translate is actually right (it means "do you know English?"). It's basically pronounced like "ingliz-jay bili-yor moo-soonooz"
– Crazydre
4 hours ago
1
Another good sentence might be, "I'm sorry but I don't speak Turkish."
– mkennedy
4 hours ago
I am flagging this record because it is scratched.
– Robert Columbia
2 hours ago
Google Translate is actually right (it means "do you know English?"). It's basically pronounced like "ingliz-jay bili-yor moo-soonooz"
– Crazydre
4 hours ago
Google Translate is actually right (it means "do you know English?"). It's basically pronounced like "ingliz-jay bili-yor moo-soonooz"
– Crazydre
4 hours ago
1
1
Another good sentence might be, "I'm sorry but I don't speak Turkish."
– mkennedy
4 hours ago
Another good sentence might be, "I'm sorry but I don't speak Turkish."
– mkennedy
4 hours ago
I am flagging this record because it is scratched.
– Robert Columbia
2 hours ago
I am flagging this record because it is scratched.
– Robert Columbia
2 hours ago
add a comment |
A Schizotypal Angel is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
A Schizotypal Angel is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
A Schizotypal Angel is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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