Nationalizing a Nation by Vernacularizing its Religion: The Translation of the Azān from the Perspective of Rewriting and Norms

The Turkish translation of the azān, the Muslim call to prayer, in the early Republican era stood as a striking symbol of the drastic changes witnessed in the Turkish state and its people as attempts to secularize the nation and redefine its identity dominated the state’s socio-political agenda. Evaluating this phenomenon from the perspective of Translation Studies can reveal novel insights into why the azān was translated and why it was met with resistance. This case study attempted to rethink the translation of the azān from the perspective of rewriting and to explore its negative reception from the perspective of norms, with particular emphasis placed on the setting and historical context of the translation. Based on the ideological motives portrayed and the other reforms implemented by the state, or in other words, the patron, it is possible to argue that the translation of the azān can be regarded as an act of rewriting. The opposition directed towards it can be accounted for by the norms of the people opposing it. Based on their history with the Islamic belief system, it can be assumed that Islam and its Arabic practices played a big part in the values that make up their norms.