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Interpreter Asim Effendi is considered to be the father of Turkish words.
He served our language much by showing the richness of Turkish language in his books.
Interpreter Asim had a sound working power. He worked
for eight years in order to translate the book named Kamus into our language. His full
domination over Turkish language is easily noticeable in this book. Thus, Kamus, can be
counted as the resources of researches of Turkish language. His Tarih, consisting of two
volumes also illuminates some of the Selim the Third period. In addition, he translated a
history book pertaining to the years in which Napoleon conquered Egypt and many other
books from Arabic and wrote many books.
Asim Effendi was born in Gaziantep in 1775. He is from a family of Antep
which brought up scientists. His father is Seyyid Mehmed Cenani Effendi. Asim Effendi grew
up in an environment in which eastern culture dominated. After his first education, he was
taught the sciences of his era and Arabic and Persian from his father and well-known
scientists.
Interpreter Asim Effendi went to Istanbul in his 35. He worked in Istanbul
in difficulties and translated the dictionary by Hussein from Tabriz, named Burhan-ý Kati
from Persian into Turkish and presented it to Sultan Selim the Third. Asim Effendi drew
the attention of the sultan and the sultan began to help him. The sultan also donated a
house to him.
He was appointed a
professor in 1796. Then he was assigned to the post of Historian of the palace in 1807.
After Selim the Third’s death, Asim Effendi fell into troubles. His house burned down.
As soon as Mahmud the Second was enthroned, he began to protect Interpreter Asim Effendi.
He gave him a bigger house. Afterwards, his importance and value rose much more. This book
was published between 1814 and 1817 with sultan’s decree. He worked as Selonika Kadi for
a period of time there. After returning to Istanbul from there, he died in 1820.
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