Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2025

Daily Sabah - Latest & Breaking News from Turkey | Istanbul

  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

Turkish Language Association (TDK) defines ‘available’ as ‘Woman who is ready to flirt’

by Daily Sabah

ISTANBUL Mar 10, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
No Image
by Daily Sabah Mar 10, 2015 12:00 am
The Turkish Language Association's (TDK) definition of 'available' in its official dictionary has been criticized by women all around Turkey for suggesting that it means 'One who is ready to flirt, who can flirt easily (woman).'

Many women who have reacted to the sexist statement on social media have demanded that it be removed as soon as possible.

A feminist group, called 'Istanbul Feminist Kolektif', asked on their facebook account: "Why is it 'woman' written in parenthesis? Can men not also be 'available'?"

There is now a campaign on the leading social platform Campaign.org for the definition of 'available' on TDK's dictionary be revised. The campaign says that flirting is an act done mutually, and that both women and men can possess the nature of flirting easily. The campaign's statement said further: "The Turkish Language Association displays a sexist attitude with the parenthesis including the word of woman, and serves patriarchy that constitutes the basis of violence and discrimination against woman."

TDK's definition is also prevalent in its printed dictionary.

The Language Association's President, Mustafa Kaçalın, answered reporters' questions on Wednesday about the wide scale criticism the definition of 'available' has attracted. He responded that the definition of 'available' was put in the official dictionary in 1983 and the Association will take people's recent reaction into consideration, and may revise the definition.

He said, "Everyone can warn [us], and we would correct it [definition]."

The Turkish Language Association (TDK) is the official regulatory body of the Turkish language. The association acts as the official authority on the language, contributes to linguistic research on Turkish and other Turkic languages, and is charged with publishing the official dictionary of the language.

  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Mar 11, 2015 3:45 pm
    KEYWORDS
    tÜrkİye
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Ihlara Valley
    Gift of nature: Beautiful canyons around Turkey
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • DS TV
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021