Engin Ardiç
Encyclopedia
Engin Ardıç is a well known Turkish
writer
and journalist
who, with the commencement of private television broadcasting in Turkey
, also worked as a television commentator in the 1990s.
, a major coastal city on the northern Black Sea
shores of Anatolia
. Having moved to Istanbul
at a very early age due to his parents' appointment, he passed his childhood mostly in today's central Beşiktaş
, around Çarşıiçi locality where he was deeply influenced by the lifestyle of the inhabitants and especially by the slang
spoken which would later resurface in his works. His keen interest in linguistics may have its roots in this very early epoch of his life.
In 1959, Ardıç was admitted to the elementary section of the highly praised Galatasaray High School (he would complete all stages of elementary and secondary education in this school) where he learned French and befriended many of today's famous Turkish writers, actors, diplomats and high ranked officials who were also students at the same institution. His multifaceted life between his education in this reputed boarding school and the streets of his locality gave his style a unique shape which combines, everyday jargon
of Istanbul streets and a deep understanding of linguistics.
He relates to these early days of his life in the article "1959" from his book "Kadın Suretleri" (Woman Faces) which gathers his articles published in the Turkish feminine magazine "Elele" (Hand-in-hand). Later, in one of his works, he would define himself as "the last of the long-time extinct urchin
s of Istanbul streets".
He has succeeded, unlike many of his peers who have been carried away by socialist currents dominant in the Turkish press, to assume a liberal and constructive approach to the right-wing, liberal-conservative governments including the present AK Party government. This position drew the ire of many secular Turkish intellectuals. Due to his liberal stance, he has been accused of being anti-Atatürk, which he vehemently denies. He mocks the so called "Kemalists" (i.e. puritanical pro-Atatürk communities) in his column with his famous slang language.
Following his graduation from Galatasaray High School, Ardıç became a student at Robert College
, at the department of political sciences. His deep interest in theater stimulated his eagerness to write and his first articles were critiques of theatrical plays written for the magazine "Tiyatro" (Theater), in the early 1970s. He also wrote literary critics in Yeni Dergi (New Magazine), Politika (Politics) and Cumhuriyet (The Republic).
He is currently a columnist in Sabah newspaper.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who, with the commencement of private television broadcasting in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, also worked as a television commentator in the 1990s.
Biography
He was born in 1952 in TrabzonTrabzon
Trabzon is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Iran in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast...
, a major coastal city on the northern Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
shores of Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
. Having moved to Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
at a very early age due to his parents' appointment, he passed his childhood mostly in today's central Beşiktaş
Besiktas
Beşiktaş is a municipality of Istanbul, Turkey, located on the European shore of the Bosphorus. It is bordered on the north by Sarıyer and Şişli, on the west by Kağıthane and Şişli, on the south by Beyoğlu, and on the east by the Bosphorus...
, around Çarşıiçi locality where he was deeply influenced by the lifestyle of the inhabitants and especially by the slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
spoken which would later resurface in his works. His keen interest in linguistics may have its roots in this very early epoch of his life.
In 1959, Ardıç was admitted to the elementary section of the highly praised Galatasaray High School (he would complete all stages of elementary and secondary education in this school) where he learned French and befriended many of today's famous Turkish writers, actors, diplomats and high ranked officials who were also students at the same institution. His multifaceted life between his education in this reputed boarding school and the streets of his locality gave his style a unique shape which combines, everyday jargon
Jargon
Jargon is terminology which is especially defined in relationship to a specific activity, profession, group, or event. The philosophe Condillac observed in 1782 that "Every science requires a special language because every science has its own ideas." As a rationalist member of the Enlightenment he...
of Istanbul streets and a deep understanding of linguistics.
He relates to these early days of his life in the article "1959" from his book "Kadın Suretleri" (Woman Faces) which gathers his articles published in the Turkish feminine magazine "Elele" (Hand-in-hand). Later, in one of his works, he would define himself as "the last of the long-time extinct urchin
Urchin
Urchin or urcheon is the Middle English term for "hedgehog". As such, it is applied to many things that take a similar form to a hedgehog:* Street children, homeless children who live on the street...
s of Istanbul streets".
He has succeeded, unlike many of his peers who have been carried away by socialist currents dominant in the Turkish press, to assume a liberal and constructive approach to the right-wing, liberal-conservative governments including the present AK Party government. This position drew the ire of many secular Turkish intellectuals. Due to his liberal stance, he has been accused of being anti-Atatürk, which he vehemently denies. He mocks the so called "Kemalists" (i.e. puritanical pro-Atatürk communities) in his column with his famous slang language.
Following his graduation from Galatasaray High School, Ardıç became a student at Robert College
Robert College
Robert College of Istanbul , is one of the most selective independent private high schools in Turkey. Robert College is a co-educational, boarding school with a wooded campus on the European side of Istanbul between the two bridges on the Bosphorus, with the Arnavutköy district to the east, and...
, at the department of political sciences. His deep interest in theater stimulated his eagerness to write and his first articles were critiques of theatrical plays written for the magazine "Tiyatro" (Theater), in the early 1970s. He also wrote literary critics in Yeni Dergi (New Magazine), Politika (Politics) and Cumhuriyet (The Republic).
He is currently a columnist in Sabah newspaper.