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The Serbian Proverb Poturica gori od Turčina (A Turk-convert is Worse Than a Turk): Stigmatizer and Figure of Speech

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2020
Authors
Mandić, Marija
Contributors
František, Šístek (Ed.)
Book part (Published version)
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Abstract
Th is chapter focuses on the proverb Poturica gori od Turčina (A Turk-convert is worse than a Turk), which for purposes of brevity I refer to simply as ‘A Turkconvert is worse . . .’. Despite feeling archaic, it is commonly used and negatively connoted in the Serbian conversational discourse. Since the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans, the ethnonym Turčin (Turk) has not been reserved only for people of Turkish ethnicity – primarily viewed as representatives of the Ottoman enslavers of Serbia from the fi fteenth to the nineteenth century – but it also functioned as a confessionym for all Ottoman Muslims. Moreover, a particular label, poturica, was coined for Christian converts to Islam, and literally means ‘Turk-convert’ (or Turkifi ed). Th e term had either a neutral or a slightly pejorative meaning, depending on the context; but as the empire was declining, and especially after its dissolution, it progressively acquired a derogatory meaning and an emotive charge. Th is contr...ibution thus attempts to show how the linguistic means under discussion have come, via stigmatization, a long way from sociopolitical categorization to fi gurative speech. It is argued that stigmatization is part of the broader strategic erasure of the Ottoman heritage in the Serbian public discourse. Firstly, the theoretical framework to be applied in the chapter is presented. Th en, the Balkan Christians’ views on the Ottoman heritage and the Slavic Muslims are discussed. Th e chapter refl ects on the stigmatization of the Slavic Muslims in some of the most representative works of the modern Serbian canon. Finally, usage of the proverb ‘A Turk-convert is worse . . .’ in contemporary conversational discourse is analysed.

Keywords:
Serbian proverb / Poturica gori od Turčina / Muslims / conversion / figurative speech / hate speech / Ottoman heritage / Islam / Njegoš / Vuk Stefanović Karadžić
Source:
Imagining Bosnian Muslims in Central Europe: Representations, Transfers and Exchanges, 2020, 170-193
Publisher:
  • New York : Berghahn Books
Funding / projects:
  • Humboldt-Forschungsstipendium 2016-2018, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Sprach- und literaturwissenschaftliche Fakultät - Institut für Slawistik und Hungarologie
  • Language, folklore, migrations in the Balkans (RS-178010)

ISBN: 978-1-78920-774-3

[ Google Scholar ]
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_10822
URI
https://dais.sanu.ac.rs/123456789/10822
Collections
  • BI SANU - Opšta kolekcija / General collection
Institution/Community
Балканолошки институт САНУ / Institute for Balkan Studies SASA
TY  - CHAP
AU  - Mandić, Marija
PY  - 2020
UR  - https://dais.sanu.ac.rs/123456789/10822
AB  - Th is chapter focuses on the proverb Poturica gori od Turčina (A Turk-convert is
worse than a Turk), which for purposes of brevity I refer to simply as ‘A Turkconvert
is worse . . .’. Despite feeling archaic, it is commonly used and negatively
connoted in the Serbian conversational discourse. Since the Ottoman conquest of
the Balkans, the ethnonym Turčin (Turk) has not been reserved only for people of
Turkish ethnicity – primarily viewed as representatives of the Ottoman enslavers
of Serbia from the fi fteenth to the nineteenth century – but it also functioned as
a confessionym for all Ottoman Muslims. Moreover, a particular label, poturica,
was coined for Christian converts to Islam, and literally means ‘Turk-convert’
(or Turkifi ed). Th e term had either a neutral or a slightly pejorative meaning,
depending on the context; but as the empire was declining, and especially after
its dissolution, it progressively acquired a derogatory meaning and an emotive charge. Th is contribution thus attempts to show how the linguistic means under
discussion have come, via stigmatization, a long way from sociopolitical categorization
to fi gurative speech. It is argued that stigmatization is part of the broader
strategic erasure of the Ottoman heritage in the Serbian public discourse. Firstly,
the theoretical framework to be applied in the chapter is presented. Th en, the
Balkan Christians’ views on the Ottoman heritage and the Slavic Muslims are
discussed. Th e chapter refl ects on the stigmatization of the Slavic Muslims in
some of the most representative works of the modern Serbian canon. Finally, usage
of the proverb ‘A Turk-convert is worse . . .’ in contemporary conversational
discourse is analysed.
PB  - New York : Berghahn Books
T2  - Imagining Bosnian Muslims in Central Europe: Representations, Transfers and Exchanges
T1  - The Serbian Proverb Poturica gori od Turčina (A Turk-convert is Worse Than a Turk): Stigmatizer and Figure of Speech
SP  - 170
EP  - 193
UR  - https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_10822
ER  - 
@inbook{
author = "Mandić, Marija",
year = "2020",
abstract = "Th is chapter focuses on the proverb Poturica gori od Turčina (A Turk-convert is
worse than a Turk), which for purposes of brevity I refer to simply as ‘A Turkconvert
is worse . . .’. Despite feeling archaic, it is commonly used and negatively
connoted in the Serbian conversational discourse. Since the Ottoman conquest of
the Balkans, the ethnonym Turčin (Turk) has not been reserved only for people of
Turkish ethnicity – primarily viewed as representatives of the Ottoman enslavers
of Serbia from the fi fteenth to the nineteenth century – but it also functioned as
a confessionym for all Ottoman Muslims. Moreover, a particular label, poturica,
was coined for Christian converts to Islam, and literally means ‘Turk-convert’
(or Turkifi ed). Th e term had either a neutral or a slightly pejorative meaning,
depending on the context; but as the empire was declining, and especially after
its dissolution, it progressively acquired a derogatory meaning and an emotive charge. Th is contribution thus attempts to show how the linguistic means under
discussion have come, via stigmatization, a long way from sociopolitical categorization
to fi gurative speech. It is argued that stigmatization is part of the broader
strategic erasure of the Ottoman heritage in the Serbian public discourse. Firstly,
the theoretical framework to be applied in the chapter is presented. Th en, the
Balkan Christians’ views on the Ottoman heritage and the Slavic Muslims are
discussed. Th e chapter refl ects on the stigmatization of the Slavic Muslims in
some of the most representative works of the modern Serbian canon. Finally, usage
of the proverb ‘A Turk-convert is worse . . .’ in contemporary conversational
discourse is analysed.",
publisher = "New York : Berghahn Books",
journal = "Imagining Bosnian Muslims in Central Europe: Representations, Transfers and Exchanges",
booktitle = "The Serbian Proverb Poturica gori od Turčina (A Turk-convert is Worse Than a Turk): Stigmatizer and Figure of Speech",
pages = "170-193",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_10822"
}
Mandić, M.. (2020). The Serbian Proverb Poturica gori od Turčina (A Turk-convert is Worse Than a Turk): Stigmatizer and Figure of Speech. in Imagining Bosnian Muslims in Central Europe: Representations, Transfers and Exchanges
New York : Berghahn Books., 170-193.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_10822
Mandić M. The Serbian Proverb Poturica gori od Turčina (A Turk-convert is Worse Than a Turk): Stigmatizer and Figure of Speech. in Imagining Bosnian Muslims in Central Europe: Representations, Transfers and Exchanges. 2020;:170-193.
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_10822 .
Mandić, Marija, "The Serbian Proverb Poturica gori od Turčina (A Turk-convert is Worse Than a Turk): Stigmatizer and Figure of Speech" in Imagining Bosnian Muslims in Central Europe: Representations, Transfers and Exchanges (2020):170-193,
https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_dais_10822 .

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