NEW ALPHABET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 66, 28 December 1928, Page 5

NEW ALPHABET.

THE TURKISH INNOVATION. COMPULSORY INSTRUCTION. (United Press Association— Copyright.) LONDON, December 26. The Constantinople correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" states that the Grand National Assembly of Angora has ordered the calling up, on January I, of all Turkish citizens between the ages of 16 and 40 years for instruction in reading and writing in the reformed language. The classrooms will be beflagged, and speeches will emphasise the importance of universal literacy. Bands will play the National Anthem. , , . Heads of families may undertake to teach the members of their families, and husbands may teach their wives, but all must undergo public examinations.—Australian Press Association.

The Bill enforcing the Latin alphabet was passed unanimously by the Assembly in November. Kemal Pasha, the Premier, said-—" The only way in which the Turkish nation can overcome io-norance is through education, and this can be made possible only by a new Turkish alphabet. The adoption of the new characters in the form ot law wifl constitute one of the greatest reforms in our struggle toward progress, and will assure the entrance Ot Turkey into the great family of the civilised peoples. The Parliament responsible for its adoption will make lor itself a privileged place not only in Turkish history, but in that of the uni- ! verse. I look to everyone who already I knows how to read and write the new 'letters to get to work andteach all with whom he comes in contact to do the same, and thereby assure the fulfilment in the space of a few years ot a need which has never yet been satisfied. The freeing of our compatriots from the bondage of ignorance will be a revolution which will give our existence a new and exceptional vigour and mean the opening to Turkey of a new world of light." The law makes the use of the new characters obligatory in State Departments and for official formalities as from January 1 next year, but an extension until June 1 is given for documents such as birLh certificates, marriage licenses, court minutes, etc. All newspapers and periodicals, public notices, advertisement posters, cinema film titles, etc., were to be printed in the new letters as from December 1.