Old Turkish New Age (Book)

Old Turkish New Age is a work authored by Abdullah Uğur and Ensar Karagöz and published by Dergâh Yayınları in May 2024. The book centers on Sheikh Mehmed Râşid Efendi’s Dîvân, written exclusively in “pure Turkish,” and examines the language and Sufi culture of the late Ottoman and early Republican periods.

The work presents information on the life and family of Sheikh Mehmed Râşid Efendi, as well as his views on linguistic issues. General information is provided about Râşid Efendi’s works, most of which relate to the Turkish language and lexicography. In the second part of the book, attention is focused on the two surviving manuscripts of Râşid Efendi’s “pure Turkish” Dîvân, its lexical world, and the full text of the Dîvân is presented.

• Language and Sufi Culture: The book explains how language and Sufi culture developed during the late Ottoman and early Republican periods.
• Turkish Language and Lexicography: Râşid Efendi’s works related to the Turkish language and lexicography are analyzed.
• Pure Turkish Literature: The significance of works written exclusively in “pure Turkish” and their impact on the language are examined.

The work is written in an academic tone and offers an in-depth analysis for readers interested in language and Sufi culture. It serves as an important source for those seeking to understand the linguistic outlook and Sufi culture of the period through Râşid Efendi’s writings.