Translation aspect of ?Turkish humanism?: Translation Bureau and Translation journal (1940 - 1946)

The aim of this research work is to discuss the translation activities of the Translation Bureau between the years 1940 ? 1946, in the context of humanism. The subject era is limited by the years that Hasan Ali Yücel was the Minister of Education/Culture, by time that ?Turkish Humanism? formed government?s culture policy. Firstly, information about the history of translation and humanism is given. Translation studies in the Ottoman era and in the first decades of Turkish Republic are summarised, the sources of ?Turkish Humanism? are commentated. Finally, translation activity in the 1940?s is analysed in the politic, economic and social level. The findings of the study suggests that neither in the Ottoman, nor in the first decades of Republican era, a translation activity which would adapt the humanist culture to the society could not be occured. Second, the thought of ?Turkish Humanism? was began to be discussed by a group of elite in the seond half of the 1930?s, and it has become the formal culture policy when Hasan Ali Yücel was appointed as the Minister of Education/Culture. But the humanist cultural studies, including the translation activities were reacted by traditional approaches toculture. Especially supporters of the racist movement, gained effectiveness in the political climate of the Second World War, accused humanists as ?communists?. The governing elite?s apprehension of engaging into the western block in the Cold War era caused government to forsake humanist culture activities, including the translation studies. The content of the studies of Translation Bureau and Translation Journal are effected by the changing government policy.