“The scandal concerning translations of the books was uncovered when the daily newspaper Radikal recently published citations from the books included on the “100 Essential Readings” list, comprising children's and world literature as well as Turkish classics recommended to school children. Some publishers had inserted Islamist ideology into the translations, making alterations in such classics as Hugo's “Les Miserables,” Spyri's “Heidi” and Collodi's “Pinocchio.”Some of the books on the list, printed with the ministry-approved logo, were either distorted to reflect the publishers' often religious ideology or included obscene words and phrases. The scandal grew further when newspapers discovered that a riddle book for kids bearing the ministry logo features brainteasers using obscene terminology, including vulgar language depicting male reproductive organs. Another book - a dictionary of phrases for kids - had the meanings of highly informal terms and slang words explained on its pages. The Ministry of Education logo on the books suggest they are approved and recommended to school children by the ministry, but Çelik said his ministry had approved only the list of books to be recommended and not their versions published by private publishing houses. “We cannot check the content of the books every day. But if there is slang and swear words, we will sue them for using the ministry logo,” he said in the eastern province of Van.
Translation
In one translation, Geppetto's little son Pinocchio says “Give me some bread for the sake of Allah,” and gives thanks to “Allah” when he becomes an animated marionette. In Dumas's "Three Musketeers," D'Artagnan while on his way to see Aramis is stopped by an old woman who explains: “You can't see him right now. He is surrounded by men of religion. He converted to Islam after his illness.” Eleanor H. Porter's "Pollyanna" confirms her belief in the Muslim apocalypse, while La Fontaine's fisherman prays using Muslim terminology to catch more fish. Spyri's Swiss orphan Heidi is told by Ms. Sesasman that “praying is relaxing. “Invented” phrases employing Muslim terminology were also inserted into classics from masters such as Anton Chekhov and Oscar Wilde.
Parliamentary discussion on recommended books
The opposition has brought the book controversy to Parliament as well. Engin Altay, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Sinop deputy, submitted a question in Parliament on Friday asking “if the books of shame will be pulled from the shelves of school libraries,” demanding a reply from Education Minister Çelik. The CHP deputy's petition noted that the ministry's "100 Essential Readings" list recommended for primary and secondary school students had an “exorbitant emphasis on Islam.” Altay also accused the ministry of contributing to the shameful act of the İlkbiz Publishing House, which printed most of the controversial books. “Recommending such a publication to schools and students, no matter how old they are, and then not inspecting the content of the book amount to contributing to the shameful act.” Newspapers said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned Çelik to take measures to deal with the scandal, prompting Çelik to order legal action against the publishing houses. Emin Ekinci, a member of teachers' union Eğitim-Sen and the principal of Büyük Halkalı Primary School, has expressed his opinion that most of the ministry-recommended books had not been examined by the ministry's Training and Education Agency and warned parents to look for the agency's logo printed on books rather than the ministry logo.”
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=52523
JPTF 2007/02/01
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário