Hello, welcome.

My name is Cemre Ömer, and now I want to
talk about my life in our language.

I was born in 1999 in Diyarbakır.

My father’s family is from the town of 
Piran, but we have lived in the city.

My mother is from Adana.

We lived in Diyarbakır for 13 years, and 
then I went to Istanbul for education.

I finished high school there. When I was 
in high school, my family moved to Alanya.

Now I am in my house, in Alanya.
I am staying with my mother.

But I am still studying at Koç University 
in Istanbul.

I am studying electronics engineering.

I am a senior, and I hope I am going to
graduate this year. I mean we will see.

I learned Zazaki from my grandpa.

My grandmom is a Kurmanj, she understands 
Zazaki but does not speak it.

My father and my aunts too can’t speak 
Zazaki at all.

My mother is a Turk. Unfortunately, she 
knows neither Kurmanji nor Zazaki.

My grandpa really wished me to know this
language. For this reason, he taught me it.

And he is speaking with me in our 
language every time.

I know Kurmanji too, and I know it well.
I can talk with my friends.

I write and read it well.

But the value of our language to me
is higher.

Because I know that there are not many 
people using this language.

For this reason, I am working a lot for 
our language.

Sometimes I translate stories, 
sometimes I give lessons to my friends,

and now I am talking to you.

And so.

I want this language to not die.

I don’t know if we can change something.

We will see.

Sometimes I go to Diyarbakır. There are 
not many relatives and friends left there.

That is right, not a lie, that city is 
my home.

Of course, I miss that place.

My grandpa, my grandma, one of my aunts 
still live in Diyarbakır.

My mother’s sister is also working there.
She lives alone.

Sometimes, in holidays and festivals, she 
comes to Alanya and sees her family.

My grandpa has a garden in Diyarbakır.
There are various plants there.

My grandpa plants tomatoes, cucumbers,

grapes, berries, eggplants, peppers, 
melons, and watermelons.

There are many fruits and vegetables.

He has also animals, he has hens and 
a sheep.

I mean, the place they live in is 
beautiful.

My father does not stay with us.
He is a psychologist.

He is a lecturer at Dicle University in Diyarbakır, 
he also gives therapy in his place.

My mother does not work. She is a housewife.

She is in Alanya, as I said.

She lives with my sister in Alanya.

My sister is beginning high school this year.

That is all about my family. 
Now I will talk about myself.

In my free time, I read books. 
I really like philosophical writings.

I learned Latin and German.

Now I am reading Cicero’s book, its name 
is Tusculanae Disputationes,

in English, it is called Tusculan 
Disputations.

On Saturdays, I take erbane (daf) 
lessons.

Erbane is a musical instrument.

It is a percussion instrument, you hit it 
like a drum, like that.

My speech is done, I mean it is enough.

Thank you all for listening.

I bid you all farewell. 
Take care of yourself.