Erdogan: Turkish language must be preserved

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Turkish citizens to use their language with care, especially when it comes to naming places such as sports centers.

"While our language has its own richness, naming sports halls after arenas in Europe where animals are raced is neither gentle nor exquisite," Erdogan said, speaking at the 8th International Turkish Language Congress in Ankara.

Erdogan said those who think the Turkish language is not good enough then it means they are making “the biggest slander” against the Divan-i-Lugat-it Turk -- the first known Turkish dictionary.

"The sole need of our language is people and institutions that appreciate it. We should adopt Turkish as the spirit of our nation," Anadolu agency cited him as saying.

He said the Turkish government already encourages municipalities to not allow billboards with foreign titles such as “club” and “cafeteria” as part of its efforts to promote the Turkish language.

The president also supported the recent introduction of Ottoman Turkish language courses at high schools as a first step towards repairing ties with the civilization of ancestors.