the past and the present of book publishing in kurdish language in ...

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONSAfter the explanations above, we could say that the ban on the language andcensorship were the main problems of Kurdish writers and book publishing for a longtime. The history of Kurdish books in Turkey is all about oppression and censorship.Since the foundation of the Turkish Republic, authorities have carried out a policy ofsevere nationalism, aiming at assimilating other peoples living within the boundaries ofthe state and speaking other languages. The condition of Kurdish publications inTurkey and Sweden are two different examples demonstrating the importance ofcultural policy (100). That is to say, cultural policy can be used to both destroy orrevive a culture. Although the policy of oppression applied by Turkey hindered thedevelopment of written Kurdish, it could not destroy the desire and the attempt topublish Kurdish books and periodicals. In spite of the linguistic genocide, the Kurdshave, to a great extent, managed to preserve their language.Naturally, Kurdish writers and publishers were influenced by the oppressiveconditions they lived in. They only got the chance to become literate in their mothertongue as adults long after they became literate in one- even more- foreignlanguage(s). The number of books in Kurdish has grown after the lifting of the banand it will be increasing in the future. However, linguistic genocide must end for thenumber of readers and the sales to increase. The state must support thedevelopment of the Kurdish language which must be studied at school as thelanguage of education.None of the Kurdish publishers in Turkey have their own printing house.However, the Swedish experience has shown that the ownership of a printing houseby Kurdish publishers will have a positive impact on Kurdish book publishing.One of the greatest problems of Kurdish publishers is distribution. It is notenough to write and print books but they must reach the readers. However,distribution and marketing of Kurdish books are still unprofessional, done byamateurs not only in Turkey but in Europe, too. For example, there is still nonetwork for distributing books in Kurdish. The solution of these problems will havea positive impact on sales.One of the greatest problems of Kurdish literature I can see today is the lack ofserious criticism. There is no survey on the reading habits of readers of Kurdishliterature either although such information would be very important for literature, bookpublishing and libraries. It is known that national characteristics influence the waypeople read as well as gender, class, profession and life experience (101). “Ongoingethnical and national conflicts require a new approach to the connection betweenliterature and identity.” (102)Kurdish publishers who wish to increase sales should consider all this anddevelop new strategies.46