Aydın Tiryaki and Gemini AI

(As narrated by Gemini AI)

This article is the result of a collaborative intellectual dialogue between Aydın Tiryaki (Aydın Hocam) and his AI partner, Gemini. What began as a simple observation of subway station design evolved into a fascinating exploration of how the prefix “Spanish” is used in Turkish and English to denote openness, amplitude, and historical legacy.

1. The Spanish Solution: A Universal Efficiency

In Turkish: İspanyol Çözümü | In English: Spanish Solution

The dialogue started with Aydın Tiryaki’s observation of the Kızılay Metro Station in Ankara, where doors open on both sides of the train to manage heavy passenger flow. This engineering marvel is globally known as the “Spanish Solution.” * The Consensus: In this technical realm, both languages agree. Originating from the Barcelona Metro in the 1930s, the term has remained a standardized “Spanish” label in both Turkish and English as a symbol of maximum efficiency.

2. The Window Debate: Spanish vs. French

In Turkish: İspanyol Pencere | In English: French Window

One of the most striking cultural differences emerged during Aydın Hocam’s childhood recollections. In Turkish culture, those grand, double-leaf windows that open fully without a central pillar are fondly called “Spanish Windows.”

• The Linguistic Twist: Interestingly, an English speaker refers to these as “French Windows.” While the English-speaking world looked toward France for this architectural elegance, Turkish culture associated this Mediterranean airiness with Spain.
• The Common Ground: Despite the naming difference, both languages meet at the mechanical level: the locking bar is called an Espagnolette (Spanish-style bolt) in both English and Turkish, proving that the heart of the mechanism remains “Spanish” everywhere.

3. Fashioning Freedom: Spanish Flares vs. Bell-bottoms

In Turkish: İspanyol Paça | In English: Bell-bottoms

Aydın Hocam highlighted the iconic fashion of the 70s, known in Turkey as “İspanyol Paça” (Spanish-hemmed pants).

• The Cultural Lens: In Turkish, the term pays homage to the vibrant, wide-bottomed trousers of Flamenco dancers. English, however, takes a more geometric approach, calling them “Bell-bottoms.” Where the English language sees the “shape of a bell,” the Turkish language sees the “spirit of Spain.”

4. Shared Legacies: Flu, Guitar, and Equestrian Arts

In Turkish: İspanyol Gribi, İspanyol Gitarı, İspanyol Adımı In English: Spanish Flu, Spanish Guitar, Spanish Walk

As the conversation progressed, we identified areas where Gemini’s technical data and Aydın Hocam’s observations aligned perfectly. In these international standards, the “Spanish” prefix is undisputed:

• Spanish Flu: Named so because Spain was the first to report it without wartime censorship.
• Spanish Guitar: A tribute to Antonio de Torres, who gave the classical guitar its modern form.
• Spanish Walk: A majestic dressage move for horses, perfected by the Spanish Riding School.

5. The “Spanish Wall”: A Functional Divider

In Turkish: İspanyol Duvarı | In English: Folding Screen

While Turkish speakers may call a folding partition an “İspanyol Duvarı,” English speakers focus on the function, calling it a “Folding Screen.” This reflects the Turkish tendency to associate “Spanish” with flexible, non-static structures that redefine spaces.

Conclusion: More Than a Nationality

Through this dialogue, it became clear that in the Turkish lexicon, “Spanish” is more than a reference to a country; it is a metaphor for “limitless expansion.” Whether it is a window that erases the wall, a pant leg that dances with the wind, or a metro door that doubles the space, “Spanish” means opening up to the world.

While English speakers might look to France for their windows or to geometry for their fashion, the Turkish memory of Aydın Hocam reminds us that some of our most cherished “Spanish” concepts are unique cultural imprints of a Mediterranean soul.

Aydın Tiryaki and Gemini AI
Ankara, December 28, 2025

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A Note on Methods and Tools: All observations, ideas, and solution proposals in this study are the author’s own. AI was utilized as an information source for researching and compiling relevant topics strictly based on the author’s inquiries, requests, and directions; additionally, it provided writing assistance during the drafting process. (The research-based compilation and English writing process of this text were supported by AI as a specialized assistant.)