The conference titled “The Legacy of the Word: The Bursa Manuscript”, organized by Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) on December 15, World Turkic Language Family Day, brought the ancient legacy of the Turkish language and the Dede Korkut tradition together with the academic community.
The speaker of the conference, organized in cooperation with the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at BEUN Teoman Duralı Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Genç Kalemler Literature Club, was Prof. Dr. Ferruh Ağca, faculty member of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Eskişehir Osmangazi University. The Rector of BEUN, Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Servet Karasu, senate members, academic and administrative staff, and many students attended the conference held at Tahir Karauğuz Conference Hall on Farabi Campus.
The program started with a moment of silence in memory of our honorable martyrs and singing of the National Anthem. The Rector of BEUN, Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, gave the opening speech. In his speech, Rector Özölçer emphasized the role of Dede Korkut in the cultural background, sense of ethics, and concept of civilization of the Turkish nation, and added:
Rector Özölçer: “Dede Korkut is a man of wisdom who shapes his words through the anvil of wisdom and enlightens the road our nation takes with his sayings.”
“The wise man of the Oghuz Turks, Dede Korkut, is a guard of time who touches the hearts and lives in the epic while keeping it alive. He is a carrier of the truth who engraved the traditions and culture of the Turks into the hearts through his words beyond his time. Dede Korkut's stories are not just a written work, but a monument of ethics built with the celebrated words and the memory of the civilization. We can find the strong faith of our nation, the heroic acts of our ancestors, and a conception that focuses on sharing in his words. Dede Korkut Epics are like Gilgamesh or the Iliad, even more of them. This book consists of our own words, pure language. Today, 15 December, has been declared “World Turkic Language Family Day” by UNESCO. The strong politics of Turkic states, particularly our own country, were influential in this decision. Thus, this event is meaningful. I congratulate the Turkish world, which grows with the richness of Turkic languages, and everyone who speaks, learns, teaches, and those who set their hearts on Turkish on the day of “Turkic Language Family Day”. I also thank our esteemed speaker who introduced the Bursa Manuscript to the academic community.”
The Discovery of Ancient Work: Bursa Manuscript
The speaker of the conference, Prof. Dr. Ferruh Ağca, faculty member of Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Eskişehir Osmangazi University, shared information on the discovery process, philological characteristics, punctuation and language of the manuscript as well as the place of Bursa manuscript in the Dede Korkut tradition in his speech titled “The Legacy of the Word: The Bursa Manuscript”.
Evaluating the Bursa Manuscript discovered by an imam in Fakılı, Bursa, in comparison with Dresden and Vatican manuscripts, Prof. Dr. Ağca emphasized the significance of the Bursa Manuscript in terms of Turkish language and literature by focusing on the vocabulary, wording, oral cultural elements, and contributions to the text. Prof. Dr. Ağca stated that his task to translate the text from the Arabic alphabet into the Latin alphabet and Modern Turkish, which took three years to complete, is significant in introducing the Bursa Manuscript to the academic world. Emphasizing that the version published by Bursa Municipality lacked vowel pointing, Prof. Dr. Ağca stated that his version includes descriptions of how to read the text, which is important for Dede Korkut manuscripts.
Dede Korkut Epics: The Living Memory of Turkish Culture
Prof. Dr. Ağca highlighted that Dede Korkut epics are not just literary works but a cultural heritage that reflects the faith system, social structure, and values of the Turkish nation. He also congratulated the 15 December, World Turkic Language Family Day, declared by UNESCO, and stated that he is honored to speak of Dede Korkut Manuscripts and the richness of the language at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University on this special day. He expressed his thanks, particularly to the Rector of BEUN, Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, and those who contributed to the organization of this program.
Following the conference, Prof. Dr. Ferruh Ağca paid a visit to the Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer in his office. Prof. Dr. Ferruh Ağca presented Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer with Dede Korkut Bursa Manuscript. He expressed that he is honored to be the speaker of the conference, and he thanked Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer for his hospitality.
