The Bilingualism Experiences Of Scholars Sent Abroad For Education (1416 Scholars) (1923-1950)

The Tradition of Sending Students Abroad on Scholarships for Higher Education began during the reign of Sultan Selim III. As one of the most significant educational initiatives of Ottoman modernization, this tradition continued uninterrupted after the establishment of the Republic. In 1929, the “Law No. 1416 on Students to Be Sent to Foreign Countries” was enacted, and this practice, inherited from the Ottoman Empire, has strengthened the country’s social infrastructure by providing it with highly qualified and intellectual human capital. Since its inception in 1929, the law aimed to ensure that students sent abroad on scholarships gain academic expertise in their respective fields while developing a universal perspective through exposure to different cultures. Over the years, this objective achieved such tangible success that the scholars became known by the label “1416’lılar” (1416 Scholars), symbolizing the spark that returned to the country as a flame of intellectual contribution. This goal also facilitated the scholars in becoming bilingual or multilingual individuals, with bilingualism proving to be a key factor in the program’s overall success. Most scholars, who went abroad for higher education without prior knowledge of a foreign language, faced the already challenging process of higher education in the language of the host country, ultimately achieving significant success. Many renowned figures in their respective fields, from Cahit Arf to Sabahattin Eyüboğlu, Afet İnan to Remziye Hisar, began their bilingual journeys during these educational experiences and effectively used their bilingualism in their professional achievements. The ability to use two languages equally well played a crucial role in not only blending the culture of the host country with the education they received but also in promoting their own culture abroad. In this study, we aim to explore the bilingual experiences of 25 scholars who went abroad for education—often without knowledge of the host country's language—and later made significant contributions both in Turkey and internationally by becoming experts in their fields. We will concretize these experiences through the accomplishments of prominent figures.