Elsine-i S̱elās̱e: A Cultural Analysis of Transmission and Translation in the Ottoman Empire

Bockholt, Philip; Çelik, Hülya; Paul, Ludwig; Sargsyan, Ani

Abstract

This collection explores the complexities of translation in the Ottoman Empire, examining the intersections of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish (elsine-i s̱elās̱e) that formed the linguistic backbone of Ottoman high culture and literature. The contributors investigate translation practices, cultural exchange, and power relations that shaped the Ottoman intellectual landscape, covering topics such as literary translations, lexicography, and the evolution of Ottoman Turkish as a lingua franca. Focusing on the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries, the articles reveal the intricate web of linguistic, cultural, and historical forces that influenced translation decisions, authorship, and readership in the Ottoman Empire, shedding new light on the dynamics of cross-cultural communication and knowledge transfer in pre-modern Eurasia.