The writing system Until 1928, Turkish was written in Arabic script. As part of Atatürk's programme of westernization, however, there was a change to a slightly modified Roman alphabet. In addition to the dotted i which retains the dots when capitalized, there is an undotted I ; other diacritics include ö ü ç s. g.
Turkish names Turkish names consist of a personal name followed by a family name. Children take the father's family name. When women marry, they add their husband's family name to their own on some occasions while, on others, they replace their own with their husband's family name:
Personal name
Family name
Father
Mehmet
Keçeli
Mother
Fatma
Keçeli
or Fatma
Karabacak Keceli
Son
Erdem
Keçeli
Daughter
Ayse
Keçeli
Traditionally, and particularly in rural areas, a special naming ceremony is held between five and ten days after the birth of a child. A male relative - an uncle, a grand-father or the father - whispers the name three times into the baby's ear before announcing it to other guests.
