Language rights in Turkey: Cukurova Region Arabic dialect case

Language and dialect diversity has been exposed to devolution as a result of 19th century nation-state building movement and globalization all over the world. Yet awareness of erosion of language and dialects rose due to nation state movement and language rights emerged. In the last few decades language rights became a human rights category that many language and dialect communities fight for. Language rights frequently became a hot topic in Turkey just as it is around the world. This research aims to analyze language rights in Turkey by focusing on the Çukurova Region Arabic Dialect. To be able to analyze language rights in Turkey, fundamental concepts about language and emergence of language rights in the world and its place in human rights in the third chapter will be examined in the light of different approaches in literature in the second and third chapters, respectively. In the fourth chapter, the historical evolution of language rights in Turkey is addressed. Finally, the fifth chapter examines the language rights in Turkey with the case of Çukurova Region Arabic Dialect and Arab Alawis as one of the communities who uses the dialect. Acknowledging the fact that rights are gained through fighting for, the research on dialect is conducted by interviews with the prominent figures of Arab Alawi community in the region. These findings of this research suggest that while the existing rights granted to the community is not enough to protect or revitalize the dialect, community members have limited awareness to exercise existing rights or to demand more on language rights. Yet it is also important to note that the awareness level within the Arab Alawi community is rising.