Abstract :
Language is a crucial component of the identity of any community, including the Turkish-Belgian community living in Belgium. Although language is a system that is visualized by its alphabet, grammar structures, etc., not every language has been visualized, especially hybrid languages created by bilinguals around the world. As a bilingual typographic designer, I felt the urge to first understand the hybrid language I have been using my whole life. Second, I wanted to visualize the hybrid language, we hear every day, through typography. As language is inherently connected with sounds, this project captures the Turkish-Dutch auditory contributors in a visual manner.
During the bachelor’s project "Typisch Allochtoons" in 2021, I focused on the mixed language used by the Turkish-Belgian community every day. The research question that I based my project on was "How can typography and audio strengthen the identity of the Turkish-Belgian community?" I decided to delve deeper into this matter during my master’s project, which is called 𝑻𝑹=𝒙𝒏 𝒙𝒏=𝑵𝑳. The title refers to one of the focus points, which is the mixing of languages in one sentence. Turkish words appear in the upper part, while Dutch parts appear in the lower part.
During the process, I was inspired by many distinguished designers and interesting theories, including typographic designer/researcher Kevin Bormans’s project, "Vlaamse regiolecten via letters", which studied regional accents in Flanders, Belgium. Bormans changed letter forms according to the different kinds of dialects in Flanders. In Project 𝑻𝑹=𝒙𝒏 𝒙𝒏=𝑵𝑳, letter forms change according to the design parameters that you will read in the following chapters.
The next step in 𝑻𝑹=𝒙𝒏 𝒙𝒏=𝑵𝑳 is the analysis of audio fragments. Similarities and differences were identified between the Dutch, Turkish, and Turkish-Dutch languages. From there, design parameters were developed to visualize the seven main auditory contributors for the establishment of an identity for Turkish-Belgians. These parameters are implemented in a font where the letters are modified per design parameter, and this is done within a system determined by the community, where Turkish, Dutch, and Turkish-Dutch (new words) are mixed naturally.
This project not only visualizes the beauty of a hybrid language but also contributes to its identity and communication, showcasing its unique characteristics and allowing for a deeper understanding and appreciation of the language. |
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