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Chapulling

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Chapulling is a newly-coined word derived from the 2013 protests in Turkey after Prime Minister Erdogan's speech. He used the word "çapulcu" (normally means "looter", "marauder") to describe the demonstrators and then the social sites adapted this word to English with a new meaning: fighting for one's rights.

A photo from a chapulling day in Turkey 2013.
A news channel's workers are chapulling.

Talking about the protesters, who are actually ordinary citizens of Turkey, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a speech: "We cannot just watch some marauders (looters) inciting our people. [...] Yes, we will also build a mosque. I do not need permission for this from the head of the Republican Party (CHP) nor from a few marauders (looters).[1]"

In a turn of events, the protesters quite quickly decided to take over the term to describe themselves as "çapulcu" and completely changed the meaning. Within days, it seemed that what was once a term describing something negative became the opposite. All around the world, supporters for the Gezi Park events started taking photos of themselves showing "I'm chapulcu, as well" and posting it on social media addressed at the protesters in Turkey.

Soon, even mainstream media outside of Turkey started using the term, first slowly but growing by the hour.

English language teachers in Turkey started describing the use of the term in videos ("I chapul", "I chapulled", etc.).

Chapul (verb): (/ˈtʃapu(ə)ːl/ regular, -ed): To resist force, demand justice, seek one's rights.

Chapuller (noun): (/ˈtʃapu(ə)ːlə/): A person who resists force, demands justice and seeks his/her rights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8_vqwkNYIY Everday I'm Chapulling

The word is closely linked with a graffiti inscription drawn on a wall during the demonstrations, which can be seen on the right side, where "Everyday I'm chapulling" alludes to the lyrics of LMFAO's 'Party Rock Anthem' where it reads "Everyday I'm shuffling".

Turkish pronunciation can be reached at Forvo.

References

  1. ^ http://www.radikal.com.tr/politika/erdogan_akm_yikilacak_taksime_cami_de_yapilacak-1135947

7. CNN International News https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151438794482742

8. Wikipedia Definition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Turkish_protests

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