Throughout history, it was the lingua franca of Anatolia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and India, and is presently the official language of Iran, Afghanistan, and the Republic of Tajikistan. Of course, NES offers Turkish. Familiarity with the Turkish language may be considered a necessity for study of the Ottoman Empire, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. Turkish instruction offerings stress reading, comprehension, and writing. Intensive summer language programs are available in the United States and Turkey for students wishing to improve their skills to the highest levels.
Language learning becomes an unforgettable and exciting intellectual experience.
NES language instruction is further enhanced by lectures in the native languages and other cultural activities on campus. Graduate students may apply for Area Language Fellowships offered by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies. NES and CMES support student participation in a number of study-abroad programs by providing the most recent information and applications. In these courses, students study the sound system, spelling conventions, and verb paradigms of Navajo and acquire basic oral and literacy skills. They become familiar with cultural and grammatical aspects of the language by learning about Navajo life.