Each letter stands for one phoneme only. You just learn the code, get used to it and that´s it. The only problem in reading Russian is the word stress which can be on any syllable. In addition, the vowels of those syllables which are non-stressed change their quality. But as there are no such problems in Turkish (the stress rules are not very complicated and the stressed syllable doesn´t kill the rest of the syllables) Russian alphabet would work just fine for you, too...

Different ortographies are a real problem and they create obstacles between peoples. They are not only a technical challenge but some kind of a mental barrier also. (As you see, clever people like you find it hard to accept that C stands for S even though it is just an agreement. What about those who hardly master their own mother tongue?) Because of the orthography Arabic looks much harder in our eyes than it actually is. Maybe the same applies to Chinese or Japanese also.

The Cyrillic ortography is a very clever one and I think it is no problem to use it for Turkish also. I noticed is Kyrgyz language only three extra marks were taken into use (for ı, ü and

ŋ if I remember now). But I really wonder the using of Arabic writing. In my opinion they shouldn´t use it for Arabic even, but the rich variety of vowels in Turkic languages must be a real problem if you use Arabic scrift. I will have to see how it looks...

The problem is the question comes before the answer (but I understand what you mean: I can imagine the answer there).

I feel often tempted to place niye right before the predicate. The question word feels like the most important thing in the sentence, actually the reason for uttering it.

I apologize for my ignorance but I didn´t realize until now how huge area on the map Turkic languages cover. I have an excuse, too. I first learned all those countries as being the South of Soviet Union. Shame on me but the USSR was a mote in our eye for a long time and it was hard to see the world behind it. Cengiz Aytmatov was my favourite writer when I was young. I was fascinated about the land, the people, the horses, the mountains he described. I always thought one day I will visit Frunze (Bişkek?)and Samarkand.

Maybe I will take the senior citizens´ group tour to the Silk Road after 30 years. At least I won´t be confused to see

         кош келиңиздер!

or

         xush kelipsiz!

written in my travel schedule.

I guess learners are the best possible audience for word plays. We get so easily excited about something shrewd.

Yes, you´re right, yaseminler.

How? I don’t know anything but I will call my big brother. Don’t I have a big brother? Are you sure?

My dear, I called. There is nothing. Don’t be sad.

Sorry about the messing up.

I have a feeling you are going to sing, Henry.

But...a very interesting use of the personal pronoun siz, isn´t it? At first when it was written without space in the middle I understood there was the -siz ´without´ derivation suffix. Or is there really a word play here?

I didn´t say this in order to hurt you. I said if you will be happy this way. Maybe I am not doing the right thing to you either but certainly I will not leave you. I will not leave you, don´t forget this.

I looked for my big brother. He said there is nothing.