A Linguistic analysis of modern Turkish and Azerbaijanian in terms of mutual intelligibility with special emphasis on lexemes

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aims to describe the rate of mutual intelligibility between Turkish of Turkey and Azerbaijanian through the linguistic analysis of phonological, morphological, syntactic and lexical features of both Turkish of Turkey and Azerbaijanian. Starting point of the thesis is a still ongoing discussion among the scholars in Turkey about the description of all Turkic languages. Some of the scholars in Turkey have a tendency of accepting these languages as dialects of Turkish of Turkey but some others claim that the relation between Turkish of Turkey and these Turkic languages is only sharing the same historical and linguistic background of Proto- Turkish that is supposed to be spoken somewhere in Central Asia at some time in the course of history. Principles that are trying to explain the relation between language and dialect are accepted as the theoretical basis of the thesis. As it is very difficult to find a clear- cut answer for that relation, mutual intelligibility concept has been put forward. Generally it is said that mutual intelligibility level between Turkish of Turkey and Azerbaijanian is quite high, but Turkish people visiting Azerbaijan witnessed many events due to differences between the vocabulary of these two nations. To emphasise these lexical differences 4630 words have been input on a data-based software. Words have been grouped under three different groups such as Form and Meaning Common Words, Form Different but Meaning Common Words, and Form Same but Meaning Different Words. The first chapter of the study presents the theoretical foundations of the study as well as the developments led to the current discussion.The second chapter starts with a brief history of both Turkish of Turkey and Azerbaijanian, and than mentions the studies done in Europe, Russia, and Turkey. In chapter three, linguistic analysis of the subject languages have been done and especially matters that are causing intelligibility or unintelligibility have been tried to display. Through the fourth chapter, results of tests given to the speakers of the subject languages have been shown in numerical values. Findings obtained through the given tests display that level of mutual intelligibility is high if the topic of speaking or reading is related with daily life, but in case of shifting the topic to a different aspect of life, unintelligibility occurs depending on the lexical differentiation. It is thought that the lexical differentiation is caused due to various reasons such as the separation, occurred centuries ago, the effects of other languages and cultures on the development of Turkish of Turkey and Azerbaijanian, and having characteristic political identities as independent countries.

ABSTRACT This study aims to describe the rate of mutual intelligibility between Turkish of Turkey and Azerbaijanian through the linguistic analysis of phonological, morphological, syntactic and lexical features of both Turkish of Turkey and Azerbaijanian. Starting point of the thesis is a still ongoing discussion among the scholars in Turkey about the description of all Turkic languages. Some of the scholars in Turkey have a tendency of accepting these languages as dialects of Turkish of Turkey but some others claim that the relation between Turkish of Turkey and these Turkic languages is only sharing the same historical and linguistic background of Proto- Turkish that is supposed to be spoken somewhere in Central Asia at some time in the course of history. Principles that are trying to explain the relation between language and dialect are accepted as the theoretical basis of the thesis. As it is very difficult to find a clear- cut answer for that relation, mutual intelligibility concept has been put forward. Generally it is said that mutual intelligibility level between Turkish of Turkey and Azerbaijanian is quite high, but Turkish people visiting Azerbaijan witnessed many events due to differences between the vocabulary of these two nations. To emphasise these lexical differences 4630 words have been input on a data-based software. Words have been grouped under three different groups such as Form and Meaning Common Words, Form Different but Meaning Common Words, and Form Same but Meaning Different Words. The first chapter of the study presents the theoretical foundations of the study as well as the developments led to the current discussion.The second chapter starts with a brief history of both Turkish of Turkey and Azerbaijanian, and than mentions the studies done in Europe, Russia, and Turkey. In chapter three, linguistic analysis of the subject languages have been done and especially matters that are causing intelligibility or unintelligibility have been tried to display. Through the fourth chapter, results of tests given to the speakers of the subject languages have been shown in numerical values. Findings obtained through the given tests display that level of mutual intelligibility is high if the topic of speaking or reading is related with daily life, but in case of shifting the topic to a different aspect of life, unintelligibility occurs depending on the lexical differentiation. It is thought that the lexical differentiation is caused due to various reasons such as the separation, occurred centuries ago, the effects of other languages and cultures on the development of Turkish of Turkey and Azerbaijanian, and having characteristic political identities as independent countries.