The development The development and and

characteristics of characteristics of Turkish in Turkish in

comparison to comparison to EnglishEnglishBanu Bostan, Figen Banu Bostan, Figen

KahramanKahraman

Hauptstudium, LNHauptstudium, LN

OverviewOverview1.1. General overview of TurkishGeneral overview of Turkish2.2. Historical backgroundHistorical background3.3. BorrowingsBorrowings4.4. VowelsVowels5.5. ConsonantsConsonants6.6. Word classesWord classes7.7. Word formation processWord formation process8.8. CaseCase9.9. TenseTense10.10. Kinship and colour termsKinship and colour terms

General overview of General overview of TurkishTurkish

Main geographic locations of Turkish Main geographic locations of Turkish languageslanguages

1.1. Turkey (Turkish)Turkey (Turkish)

2.2. Azerbaidjan (Azerbaidjani) Azerbaidjan (Azerbaidjani)

3.3. The formerly Soviet Central Asia, The formerly Soviet Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Southern Siberia (Uzbek, Kazakhstan, Southern Siberia (Uzbek, Kazakh, Turkmenian, Kirghiz)Kazakh, Turkmenian, Kirghiz)

4.4. On the Volga (Tatar)On the Volga (Tatar)

5.5. In northwestern China (Uighur)In northwestern China (Uighur)

The Altaic language families:The Altaic language families: the Turkic languages, Mongolic the Turkic languages, Mongolic

languages, Tungusic languages, languages, Tungusic languages, Korean and the Japonic languages.Korean and the Japonic languages.

The Turkic languages include The Turkic languages include Chuvash, Turkish, Azeri, Turkmen, Chuvash, Turkish, Azeri, Turkmen, Crimean Tatar, Urum, Qashqai, Crimean Tatar, Urum, Qashqai, Khorasani, Salar, Gagauz, Khalaj, Khorasani, Salar, Gagauz, Khalaj, Tatar, Bashkir, Baraba, Urum, Tatar, Bashkir, Baraba, Urum, Karachay-Balkar, Kumyk, Karaim, Karachay-Balkar, Kumyk, Karaim, Krymchak, Kazakh, Karakalpak, Krymchak, Kazakh, Karakalpak, Nogay, Uzbek, Uyghur, Lop, Kyrgyz, Nogay, Uzbek, Uyghur, Lop, Kyrgyz, Altay,Yakut,Tuvan, Khakas, Shor, Altay,Yakut,Tuvan, Khakas, Shor, Fuyü Gïrgïs, Chulym, Tofa, Dolgan, Fuyü Gïrgïs, Chulym, Tofa, Dolgan, Western Yugur, and Northern AltayWestern Yugur, and Northern Altay

Common features Common features

Ural - Altaic languages:Ural - Altaic languages: principle of vowel harmony principle of vowel harmony are agglutinative are agglutinative SOV word orderSOV word order no grammatical genderno grammatical gender

Regions Turkish is spoken in: Regions Turkish is spoken in: Turkey, Caucasus, Cyprus, Turkey, Caucasus, Cyprus,

BalkansBalkans

Historical backgroundHistorical background 1010thth century: the Turks had begun to century: the Turks had begun to

convert to Islam and to adopt the Arabo – convert to Islam and to adopt the Arabo – Persian alphabetPersian alphabet

1111thth century: under the leadership of the century: under the leadership of the Seljuk dynasty they overran Persia, Persian Seljuk dynasty they overran Persia, Persian became the language of administration and became the language of administration and literary culture (Persian borrowed many literary culture (Persian borrowed many words from Arabic)words from Arabic)

This hybrid language became the official This hybrid language became the official language of the Ottoman dynastylanguage of the Ottoman dynasty

Until 1922 the language of Turkey was Until 1922 the language of Turkey was known as known as OsmanlıcaOsmanlıca or or OttomanOttoman TurkishTurkish

The downfall of the Ottoman dynasty The downfall of the Ottoman dynasty made it necessary to find a new made it necessary to find a new name to distinguish this language name to distinguish this language from all other members of the same from all other members of the same linguistic family linguistic family

Formally the language is called Formally the language is called TürkiyeTürkiye Türkçesi (Turkey -Turkish) Türkçesi (Turkey -Turkish)

The language-reform movement:The language-reform movement: With the establishment of the Republic With the establishment of the Republic

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk wanted his Mustafa Kemal Atatürk wanted his people to turn their backs on their people to turn their backs on their Asian pastAsian past

In 1928 he introduced the Latin In 1928 he introduced the Latin alphabet in place of the Arabo – Persian alphabet in place of the Arabo – Persian

The Turkish Language Society (Türk Dil The Turkish Language Society (Türk Dil Kurumu –TDK) made up a list of pure Kurumu –TDK) made up a list of pure Turkish words (Öztürkçe) Turkish words (Öztürkçe)

The language reform reached the Press The language reform reached the Press the schools and the general publicthe schools and the general public

Main points Main points 1111thth century Turkish speakers century Turkish speakers

arrived in Turkey arrived in Turkey Turkish history (three periods):Turkish history (three periods):

1.1. Old Anatolian Turkish (Eski Old Anatolian Turkish (Eski Anadolu Türkçesi) Anadolu Türkçesi)

2.2. Ottoman Turkish (Osmanlıca)Ottoman Turkish (Osmanlıca)

3.3. Modern Turkish (Yeni Türkçe)Modern Turkish (Yeni Türkçe) 1928 introduction of the Latin 1928 introduction of the Latin

alphabetalphabet

BorrowingsBorrowings Words from Arabic, Persian, French, Words from Arabic, Persian, French,

Italian, German and EnglishItalian, German and English

Example: Example:

Ask for your bill Ask for your bill (hesap)(hesap) in a in a restoran restoran (restoran)(restoran) and the odds and the odds are that what the garson are that what the garson (garson)(garson) brings you will be brings you will be headed adisiyon headed adisiyon (adisiyon). (adisiyon).

ArabicArabic:: haqq- haqq- rightright – hak – hak afw - afw - pardonpardon – af – af tamass - tamass - contactcontact - -

temas temas ism - ism - namename – isim – isim adl - adl - justicejustice - adil - adil qism - qism - partpart - kısım - kısım aql - aql - intelligenceintelligence – –

akılakıl matn- matn- texttext – metin – metin umr - umr - lifelife – ömür – ömür fıkr - fıkr - thoughtthought - -

fikirfikir

FrenchFrench:: station - station - stationstation - -

istasyon istasyon statisque -statisque -

statisticsstatistics--istatistikistatistik

sport - sport - sportssports - - spor spor

club - club - clubclub - klüp - klüp groupe - groupe - groupgroup - -

grup grup principe - principe -

principleprinciple - - prensipprensip

ItalianItalian:: scala - scala - quayquay - -

iskele iskele sgombro - sgombro -

mackerelmackerel - - uskumru uskumru

spirito - spirito - alcohol – alcohol – ispirtoispirto

German:German: Schlepp - Schlepp - cargo- cargo-

boatboat – şilep – şilep Groschen - kuruşGroschen - kuruş

EnglishEnglish:: screw - uskurscrew - uskur steam – istim or steam – istim or

islimislim train – trentrain – tren

Persian:Persian: shahr - shahr - citycity – şehir – şehir zahr - zahr - poisonpoison – –

zehirzehir tukhm - tukhm - seedseed - -

tohum tohum

VowelsVowels

Turkish has 8 vowels Turkish has 8 vowels

The vowelsThe vowels 4 front vowels (e, i, ö, ü)4 front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) 4 back vowels (a, 4 back vowels (a, ı, o, u)ı, o, u) 4 high vowels (i, ı, u, ü) 4 high vowels (i, ı, u, ü) 4 low vowels (e, a, o, ö)4 low vowels (e, a, o, ö) 4 rounded vowels (o, ö, u , ü)4 rounded vowels (o, ö, u , ü) 4 unrounded vowels (a, e, i, ı)4 unrounded vowels (a, e, i, ı)

examples:examples:

akıl, okul, öpücük, elli akıl, okul, öpücük, elli

Vowel harmony rulesVowel harmony rules

1.1. Front vowel must be followed by a Front vowel must be followed by a front vowel (dolap – cupboard)front vowel (dolap – cupboard)

2.2. First vowel is unrounded so the other First vowel is unrounded so the other once are also unroundedonce are also unrounded

3.3. First vowel is rounded, the following First vowel is rounded, the following vowels are rounded and close or vowels are rounded and close or unrounded and open (erik - plum, uzak unrounded and open (erik - plum, uzak – far away)– far away)

ExceptionsExceptions1.1. Foreign wordsForeign wordstiyatro- theatre, edebiyat- literaturetiyatro- theatre, edebiyat- literature2.2. Words which changed during the Words which changed during the

time into standard Turkish time into standard Turkish ana - anne (mother), alma – elma ana - anne (mother), alma – elma

(apple)(apple)3.3. Compound wordsCompound wordsKaradeniz - Black Sea, bugün – todayKaradeniz - Black Sea, bugün – today4.4. Five invariable suffixesFive invariable suffixes(I)yor, -ki, - ken, - leyin, - (I)mtrak (I)yor, -ki, - ken, - leyin, - (I)mtrak

ConsonantsConsonants Bilabial

Labio-

dental Dental Alveolar

Post-

alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal

Plosives p b t d c ɟ

k g

Nasals m n

Fricatives f v s z ʃ ʒ

ɣ

h

Affricatives ʧ ʤ

Tap ɾ

Approximant j

Lateral

approximants

ɫ

l

ConsonantsConsonants b, f, m, p, s, z, y b, f, m, p, s, z, y areare pronouncedpronounced asas

inin EnglishEnglish

The consonant k stands for two The consonant k stands for two sounds in Turkishsounds in Turkish

A front k (key) A front k (key) A back k (cool) A back k (cool)

example:example:

ek ek affixaffix (front k) (front k)

ak ak whitewhite (back k) (back k)

The consonant l stands for two soundsThe consonant l stands for two sounds A front l A front l balbal (honey) (honey) A back l A back l bel bel (waist)(waist)

The consonant v The consonant v At the beginning it is pronounced as At the beginning it is pronounced as

in English, in the middle and at the in English, in the middle and at the end it is weaker than the English v, end it is weaker than the English v, after a vowel or before a consonant it after a vowel or before a consonant it is pronounced as bilabial fricativeis pronounced as bilabial fricative

tavtavşşan an (rabbit)(rabbit), yavru , yavru (young animal)(young animal)

The Turkish consonant The Turkish consonant g g two sounds /g/ and /ğ/ (called the soft g)two sounds /g/ and /ğ/ (called the soft g) /ğ/ is not found at the beginning of a word /ğ/ is not found at the beginning of a word /g/ does not occur after or between /g/ does not occur after or between

vowels, except words of European origin ( vowels, except words of European origin ( sigara - sigara - cigarettecigarette, sigorta - , sigorta - insurance) insurance)

If /ğ/ is between back vowels it is not If /ğ/ is between back vowels it is not pronounced ( ağaç- tree, ağır - heavy)pronounced ( ağaç- tree, ağır - heavy)

After a back vowel, before a consonant or After a back vowel, before a consonant or at the end of a word ğ is dropped and the at the end of a word ğ is dropped and the preceding vowel is lengthened ( dağ – preceding vowel is lengthened ( dağ – mountainmountain, doğru - , doğru - rightright))

In some dialects ğ is pronounced as [y] In some dialects ğ is pronounced as [y]

( diğer - ( diğer - otherother, değirmen - , değirmen - millmill ) )

Consonant assimilation in suffixes:Consonant assimilation in suffixes: When a suffix beginning with When a suffix beginning with c, d or gc, d or g

is added to a word ending in one of the is added to a word ending in one of the unvoiced consonants unvoiced consonants ç,f,h,k,p,s,ş,tç,f,h,k,p,s,ş,t the the initial consonant of the suffix is initial consonant of the suffix is unvoiced to unvoiced to ç, t or kç, t or k

example: example: kitapkitap + + cıcı = kitapçı, = kitapçı, elektrikçi elektrikçi

Syllable final plosives and Syllable final plosives and affricatives are devoicedaffricatives are devoiced

example:example:

şarap (wine) şarap (wine)

şarap + -I (Acc.) = şarab-ışarap + -I (Acc.) = şarab-ı

kitap – kitab- ıkitap – kitab- ı

Word classesWord classes NounsNouns Turkish nouns can take endings Turkish nouns can take endings

indicating indicating the person of a possessor the person of a possessor case-endingscase-endings Plural endingsPlural endingsExample:Example:evev -house -house evlerevler - the houses - the houses evinevin - your house - your house evimdeevimde - at my house - at my house

VerbsVerbs Turkish verbs indicate person Turkish verbs indicate person can be made negative or im/-can be made negative or im/-

potentialpotential can be progressive, future, present, can be progressive, future, present,

past, conditional, imperativepast, conditional, imperativeexample:example:gel-gel- (to)come (to)comegelme-gelme- not (to) come not (to) comegeleme-geleme- not (to) be able to come not (to) be able to comegelebil-gelebil- (to) be able to come (to) be able to come

AdjectivesAdjectives Most adjectives can be used as Most adjectives can be used as

nouns and adverbs nouns and adverbs

example:example:

ihtiyar - old (adj.) -the old one (noun)ihtiyar - old (adj.) -the old one (noun)

bir ihtiyar – an old one, an old person bir ihtiyar – an old one, an old person

ihtiyarlar – old ones, old people ihtiyarlar – old ones, old people

Hasan Hasan yavayavaşş yürüdü yürüdü (adverb)(adverb)

Hasan walked slowlyHasan walked slowly

PronounsPronouns Personal Personal

pronounspronouns

ben ( I )ben ( I ) sen ( you )sen ( you ) o ( he, she, it )o ( he, she, it )

biz ( we )biz ( we ) siz ( you )siz ( you ) onlar ( they )onlar ( they )

Possessive Possessive pronounpronoun

ben-im ( my )ben-im ( my ) sen-in ( your )sen-in ( your ) on- un ( his, her, on- un ( his, her,

its )its )

biz-im ( our )biz-im ( our ) siz-in ( your ) siz-in ( your ) on-lar-on-lar-ın ( their )ın ( their )

Word formation processWord formation processNouns:Nouns:göz eyegöz eyegözlük eyeglassesgözlük eyeglassesgözlükçü someone who sells eyeglassesgözlükçü someone who sells eyeglassesgözlükçülük the business of selling gözlükçülük the business of selling

eyeglasses eyeglasses

Verbs:Verbs:yat- lie downyat- lie downyatır- lay down [that is, cause to lie down]yatır- lay down [that is, cause to lie down]yatırım instance of laying down: deposit, yatırım instance of laying down: deposit,

investmentinvestmentyatırımcı depositor, investoryatırımcı depositor, investor

CaseCaseTürkiye'de modayı gazete sayfalarına Türkiye'de modayı gazete sayfalarına

taşıyan,gazetemiz yazarlarından N. S. yaşamını taşıyan,gazetemiz yazarlarından N. S. yaşamını yitirdi. “ One of the writers of our newspaper, N. yitirdi. “ One of the writers of our newspaper, N. S., who brought fashion to newspaper pages in S., who brought fashion to newspaper pages in Turkey, lost her life."Turkey, lost her life."

Türkiye'deTürkiye'de "in Turkey“ (locative) "in Turkey“ (locative) modayımodayı "fashion" (accusative of "fashion" (accusative of modamoda) ) gazetegazete "newspaper" (nominative) "newspaper" (nominative) sayfalarınasayfalarına "to its "to its pages" (dative; pages" (dative; sayfasayfa "page", "page", sayfalarsayfalar "pages", "pages", sayfalarısayfaları "its pages") "its pages")taşıyan,taşıyan, "carrying" "carrying" (present participle of (present participle of taşı-taşı-))gazetemizgazetemiz "our "our newspaper" (nominative) newspaper" (nominative) gazetegazete "newspaper""newspaper"yazarlarındanyazarlarından "from its writers" "from its writers" (ablative; (ablative; yazaryazar "writer") "writer") N. S.N. S. [person's name] [person's name] (nominative) (nominative) yaşamınıyaşamını "her/his life" (accusative; "her/his life" (accusative; yaşamyaşam "life") "life") yitirdi.yitirdi. "lost" (past tense of "lost" (past tense of yitir-yitir- "lose“ from "lose“ from yit-yit- "be lost") "be lost")

The Turkish language has got 6 cases:The Turkish language has got 6 cases:

Nominative/absolute -Nominative/absolute -Ø Ø (Ahmet) (Ahmet) Accusative/objective - (y)I (Accusative/objective - (y)I (gazete-yi, gazete-yi,

the newspaper)the newspaper) Dative - (y)A Dative - (y)A (konser-e, to the (konser-e, to the

concert)concert) Locative - DA Locative - DA (büro-da, in the office)(büro-da, in the office) Ablative - DAn Ablative - DAn (iş-ten, from work)(iş-ten, from work) Genitive - nIn Genitive - nIn (Ali`-nin, Ali`s)(Ali`-nin, Ali`s)

TenseTense Most tense markers in Turkish have Most tense markers in Turkish have

aspectual functions or function as aspectual functions or function as mood markersmood markers

PresentPresent The so- called broad tense ( -(I)r The so- called broad tense ( -(I)r

bibiçimbirim, çimbirim, genigenişş zaman) the general zaman) the general present tense, expresses habitual present tense, expresses habitual actions and general eventsactions and general events

example:example:Hasan her sabah kahvaltHasan her sabah kahvaltı ed –er ı ed –er Hasan has breakfat every morningHasan has breakfat every morningBil know, bil –ir she knowsBil know, bil –ir she knows

Present (Progressive)Present (Progressive) -(I)-yor -(I)-yor

example: example:

Hasan tenis oy-n -uyor (Pr. Prog.)Hasan tenis oy-n -uyor (Pr. Prog.)

Hasan is playing tenisHasan is playing tenis

Hasan tenis oy-n –uyor (habitual Hasan tenis oy-n –uyor (habitual action)action)

Hasan plays tenisHasan plays tenis

PastPast Two simple past tenses Two simple past tenses

1.1. Definite past -DI Definite past -DI

2.2. Reported past -mIReported past -mIş ş

example: example:

Hasan dün operaya git-ti (past)Hasan dün operaya git-ti (past)

Hasan went to the opera yesterdayHasan went to the opera yesterday

Hasan dün operaya git-miş (rep. past)Hasan dün operaya git-miş (rep. past)

Hasan reportedly went to the opera Hasan reportedly went to the opera yesterdayyesterday

FutureFuture -(AcAK)-(AcAK)

example:example:

YarYarın sana uğra-y-acağ- ımın sana uğra-y-acağ- ım

Tomorrow I will drop by at your placeTomorrow I will drop by at your place

Kinship and colour termsKinship and colour terms Kinship terms by Kinship terms by

bloodblood anne- motheranne- mother baba -fatherbaba -father nine -grandmothernine -grandmother dede -grandfatherdede -grandfather anneanne -anneanne -

maternal maternal grandmother grandmother

babaanne- paternal babaanne- paternal grandmothergrandmother

çocuk, çocuk, evlat – childevlat – child kkız – daughterız – daughter

oğul – sonoğul – son torun – grandchildtorun – grandchild kardeş – siblingkardeş – sibling erkek kardeş – brothererkek kardeş – brother kızkardeş – sister kızkardeş – sister abla – elder sisterabla – elder sister ağabey – elder brotherağabey – elder brother dayı – maternal uncledayı – maternal uncle amca – paternal uncleamca – paternal uncle teyze – maternal aunt teyze – maternal aunt hala – paternal aunthala – paternal aunt yeğen – niece or yeğen – niece or

nephew, cousinnephew, cousin

Kinship terms by marriageKinship terms by marriage bacanak -the husband of one`s wife`s bacanak -the husband of one`s wife`s

sistersister baldbaldız -sister- in- lawız -sister- in- law damat - son-in-law damat - son-in-law dünür - the father and mother -in –law of dünür - the father and mother -in –law of

one`s child one`s child elti - sister -in -lawelti - sister -in -law enişte - brother -in -lawenişte - brother -in -law gelin - daughter- in- law, bridegelin - daughter- in- law, bride görümce - sister- in- law, husband`s sistergörümce - sister- in- law, husband`s sister

Colour termsColour terms black siyah, karablack siyah, kara white beyaz, akwhite beyaz, ak red kred kırmızı, kızıl, alırmızı, kızıl, al yellow sarıyellow sarı green yeşilgreen yeşil blue maviblue mavi brown kahverengi brown kahverengi pink pembepink pembe orange- turuncu, portakal rengi (the orange- turuncu, portakal rengi (the

colour of the orange)colour of the orange) Gray-boz, gri, kurşuni, kül rengiGray-boz, gri, kurşuni, kül rengi mormor

ReferencesReferences Lewis, Geoffrey 2001. Lewis, Geoffrey 2001. Turkish GrammarTurkish Grammar. .

Oxford University Press. Oxford University Press. Kornfilt, Jaklin 1997. Turkish. London: Kornfilt, Jaklin 1997. Turkish. London:

Routledge.Routledge. Slobin, D. I., Zimmer, K. (ed.) 1986. Slobin, D. I., Zimmer, K. (ed.) 1986.

Typological Studies in Language. Typological Studies in Language. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.Publishing Company.

Underhill, R. 1993. Turkish Grammar. Underhill, R. 1993. Turkish Grammar. Cambridge/Massachusetts/London: MIT Press. Cambridge/Massachusetts/London: MIT Press.

www.wikipedia.dewww.wikipedia.de www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/asia.htmlwww.lib.utexas.edu/maps/asia.html

Thanks for attention!Thanks for attention!

TeTeşekkürler!şekkürler!