 That word ambition
Among us living in the same region there might have been differences of opinions about the meanings of a few words. For instance, while one studies with a desire to learn, others might view him/herself as an ambitious person, going to school just to gain an advantage over others. Is this kind of labeling the product of envy or something else? By the same token, have you ever heard the exclamation, "How ambitious you are!" used to praise someone in Turkey? Here is a short passage about being ambitious translated from Elif Şafak's article, That Word Ambition in Our Culture.
There are a few words whose meanings vary widely from one country to another and, in a similar way, from one culture to another. This change in meaning is considerable. In one culture a word may have a positive meaning while in another quite a negative meaning.
Tracking those changes in meaning while crossing boundaries gives us clues about that culture. Should people always be stuck to nation states' borders with their visas and passports in their hands? Sometimes words keep getting stuck; they can't get through easily.
Coming from the United States to İstanbul, the customs officer inspected my baggage that contained words. He lifted one into the air and gazed at it. However he couldn't understand what it was. With curiosity he asked, "What is it?"
"Hmm, it is a word that is called chutzpah."
"What is it? Is there something wrong in bringing it to Turkey?” he asked.
"It is similar to that word ambition in our culture," I told him.
But it isn't exactly. Because the word ambition reminds our people of something rather negative, as in not knowing your limits, related to profanity, eagerness for wealth, greed. However, chutzpah could mean something quite positive. In the United States you would praise someone by saying, "How much chutzpah you have!" whereas in our culture, you would criticize someone with the same statement.
"I understand the word isn't morally acceptable. It might even be dangerous," the customs officer said. He decided this word can't pass from the border, and put it away.
"We don't need to have that much ambition in our country." He threw chutzpah in the trash bin. I watched in amazement. There in the trash was a huge pile of words that could not enter our country.
The United States encourages individualism. Contrary to our country, to be ambitious in such is quite acceptable. To be able to do different things and to improve one's position, one must naturally have ambition. Being called a "loser" is a deeply insulting label for a person without drive. For this reason Americans are courageous and sociable; but there is much intolerant social imposition. You have to win. There is no place for the losers. This provides artists a stimulus and awards them, but also limits their art in some way. But that is not as inhibiting as certain people in Turkey who have reservations toward those wishing to teach an old cat new tricks. In Turkey there is tremendous artistic talent, but the atmosphere tires and saps the artists' creativity. We see the ones who label individualism as negatively ambitious. We blame them for not knowing their limits. For this reason the word ambition isn't approved by our people while it's encouraged in United States.
Actually, "ambitious and creative" people exist by only keep to their own work and not damaging others. They only compete against themselves. They're in every field around us. Let's encourage them today instead of criticizing them so they can be more productive. By Müge Tekin (IE/IV)
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