Learn Hardcore Turkish: Espri yapınca izleyiciler gülüyor, ama mesaj yine de net kalıyor. - When you make a joke, the audience laughs, but the message still stays clear.

It forms a time clause meaning “when,” “once,” or “upon doing.” So espri yapınca ≈ “when (someone) makes a joke / upon making a joke.” The suffix appears as -ınca/-ince/-unca/-ünce by vowel harmony. It does not mean “because”; it’s temporal.

Who is the subject of yapınca here?

It’s implicit and generic—basically “when a joke is made / when someone makes a joke.” If you want to specify it, add a subject: Komedyen espri yapınca izleyiciler gülüyor (When the comedian makes a joke, the audience laughs).

Why is it gülüyor (present continuous) and not güler (aorist)?

Both are possible:

gülüyor: common in modern speech for regular/typical outcomes; gives a vivid, “this is what happens” feel.
güler: neutral, more “general truth/habitual.”
So: Espri yapınca izleyiciler gülüyor/güler are both fine, with a slight nuance difference.

Should it be gülüyor or gülüyorlar with plural izleyiciler?

Both are correct. In 3rd person plural, the verb can be singular or plural:

izleyiciler gülüyor
izleyiciler gülüyorlar
Adding -lar often sounds a bit more conversational or is used for emphasis/clarity; leaving it off is very common in writing.

What’s the difference between izleyiciler and seyirciler?

Both mean “audience,” but:

izleyici: “viewer(s),” often for TV/online media.
seyirci: “spectator(s),” often for live performances/sports.
In many contexts they overlap; choose based on medium and style.

Is espri yapmak different from şaka yapmak?

Slightly:

espri: a witty remark, wordplay, clever quip.
şaka: any joke, including pranks.
Both can mean “to crack a joke,” but espri leans witty/clever, şaka is broader.

What does yine de add, compared to just ama?

ama = “but,” signaling contrast.
yine de = “still/nevertheless,” adds a concessive “despite that.”
Together: … ama yine de … strengthens “even so.”
Don’t confuse with hala (“still” in the temporal sense).

Is yine de one word or two?

Two words. Write it as yine de, never “yinede.” The de/da clitic is always written separately.

What does net kalıyor mean, and why use kalmak?

kalmak means “to remain.” With adjectives it means “to stay/remain [adjective].”
So mesaj net kalıyor = “the message stays/remains clear.”
You could also say açık or anlaşılır instead of net. Using kalır (aorist) is also possible for a more generic statement.

Can I move yine de or other parts around?

Yes; word order is flexible for emphasis:

… ama yine de mesaj net kalıyor (very common)
… ama mesaj yine de net kalıyor (your sentence; also fine)
… ama mesaj net kalıyor yine de (postposed for emphasis)
Beginning with Espri yapınca sets the time context first, which is natural.

How is -ınca different from -ken (as in espri yaparken)?

-ınca/-ince: “when/once/upon,” focusing on the event boundary/trigger.
-ken: “while,” focusing on simultaneity/duration.
So espri yapınca implies the joke triggers the laughing; espri yaparken is more like “while a joke is being made…”

How would I say “when a joke is made” in a passive or more formal way?

Use the passive or the -dığında construction:

Espri yapıldığında izleyiciler gülüyor (When a joke is made…)
O espriyi yaptığında izleyiciler gülüyor (When he/she makes that joke…)

Why is there no “the” before mesaj?

Turkish has no articles like “the/a.” Definiteness comes from context or possession:

mesaj net kalıyor = “the message stays clear” (from context)
filmin mesajı net kalıyor = “the film’s message stays clear.”

Is the comma before ama required?

Yes, it’s standard to put a comma before coordinating conjunctions like ama, fakat, ancak when they join clauses.

Why is it yapınca (with -ınca) and not -ince? And what about the vowels in gülüyor/kalıyor?

Vowel harmony:

-ınca/-ince/-unca/-ünce matches the last vowel of the stem. yap- has a back vowel (a), so yapınca.
Progressive -yor adapts with a buffer vowel: gül- → gülüyor; kal- → kalıyor.
Front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) take front variants; back vowels (a, ı, o, u) take back variants.