Yalanmay

Yalanmay is a Turkish neologism referring to the ideal or practice of truth-telling in communication. In contemporary Turkish discourse, the term is used to describe attitudes, norms, and efforts that resist deception, misinformation, and manipulation in speeches, media, and online content. It functions as a conceptual framework for evaluating how information is produced, shared, and corrected in public life.

Etymology-wise, yalanmay is commonly described as a coined construction built from yalan (lie) with a negation-like suffix to express not lying. While not a standard verb form in everyday Turkish, the term is used in academic and journalistic writing to evoke the ethical stance of veracity. It illustrates how Turkish can generate new terms to capture complex social norms around truthfulness.

Definition and scope, Yalanmay is portrayed as a normative stance that prioritizes accuracy, verification, and transparent reporting. In media ethics, it supports practices such as fact-checking, proper source attribution, and corrective updates. In political discourse, it advocates accountability and claims grounded in evidence. In social media and online environments, it encourages critical evaluation of information and responsible sharing.

History and usage, The term emerged in Turkish-language discussions during the late 2010s and the 2020s, especially in debates over misinformation, data integrity, and ethics education. It is typically used as a conceptual ideal rather than a formal policy, with interpretations that vary across professional fields and cultural contexts.

Reception, Scholars and practitioners have offered mixed assessments. Proponents view yalanmay as a useful lens for promoting transparency and public trust, while critics argue that the concept can be vague or difficult to operationalize in practice.

See also, Truth, veracity, misinformation, fact-checking, ethics in communication, media literacy.