Turkic languages

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Turkic
Geographic distribution:	Originally from Western China to Siberia and Eastern Europe
Genetic classification:	Altaic[1] (controversial)  Turkic
Subdivisions:	Southwestern (Oghuz) Northwestern (Kypchak) Southeastern (Uyghur) Northeastern (Siberian Turkic) Chuvash language (Oghur, Bulghar) Khalaj (Arghu)
Countries and autonomous subdivisions where a Turkic language has official status

The Turkic languages constitute a language family of some thirty languages, spoken across a vast area from Eastern Europe and Mediterranean to Siberia and Western China, and are traditionally considered to be part of the Altaic language family^[1][2]. The Turkic languages form a homogeneous group, and are, for the most part, mutually intelligible^[2].

Turkic languages are spoken by some 180 million people as a native language; and the total number of Turkic speakers is about 200 million, including speakers as a second language. The Turkic language with the greatest number of speakers is Turkish proper, or Anatolian Turkish, the speakers of which account for about 40% of all Turkic speakers^[2].

Contents 1 Characteristics 2 History 2.1 Early written records 2.2 Geographical expansion and development 3 Classification 4 Vocabulary comparison 5 References 6 Further reading 7 See also 8 External links

[edit] Characteristics

The Turkic language family exhibits vowel harmony, and is typologically characterized by agglutination by means of suffixes and a Subject Object Verb sentence order.

Turkic languages do not exhibit grammatical gender.

[edit] History

See also: Proto-Turkic language and Turkic peoples

[edit] Early written records

The first established records of the Turkic languages are the 8th century Orkhon inscriptions by the Göktürks, recording the Old Turkic language, which were discovered in 1889 in the Orkhon Valley in Mongolia. The Compendium of the Turkic Dialects (Ottoman Turkish: Divânü Lügati't-Türk), written during the 11th century by Kaşgarlı Mahmud of the Kara-Khanid Khanate, constitutes an early linguistic treatment of the family. The Compendium is the first comprehensive dictionary of the Turkic languages and also includes the first known map of the Turkic speakers' geographical distribution. It mainly pertains to the Southwestern branch of the family^[3].

The Codex Cumanicus (12th - 13th centuries) concerning the Northwestern branch is another early linguistic manual, between Kipchak language and Latin, used by the Catholic missionaries sent to the Western Cumans inhabiting a region corresponding to present-day Hungary and Romania. The earliest records of the language spoken by Volga Bulgars, the parent to today's Chuvash language, are dated to 13th - 14th centuries.

[edit] Geographical expansion and development

With the Turkic expansion during Early Middle Ages (c. 6th - 11th centuries), Turkic languages, in the course of just a few centuries, spread across Central Asia, stretching from Siberia (the Sakha Republic) to the Mediterranean (Seljuk Turks). Various elements from the Turkic languages have passed into Hungarian, Persian, Russian, Chinese and to a lesser extent, Arabic^[4].

[edit] Classification

For centuries, the Turkic speaking peoples have migrated extensively and intermingled continuously, and their languages have been influenced mutually and through contact with the surrounding languages, especially the Iranian, Slavic, and Mongolic languages^[5]. This has obscured the historical developments within each language and/or language group, and as a result, there exist several systems to classify the Turkic languages. The genetic classification of the Turkic languages commonly followed today is the one by Samoilovich (mainly based on the development of *d). However, there are many details for which debate is still ongoing.

The Turkic languages may uncontroversially be divided into six branches:

1. Southwestern (Oghuz)
2. Northwestern (Kypchak)
3. Southeastern (Uyghur)
4. Northeastern (Siberian Turkic)
5. Chuvash (Oghur, Bulghar/Bolgar)
6. Khalaj (Arghu)

With less certainty, the Southwestern, Northwestern, Southeastern and Bulghar groups may further be summarized as West Turkic, the Southeastern, Kyrgyz-Kypchak and Khalaj groups as East Turkic^[6].

Geographically and linguistically, the languages of Southwestern, Northwestern, and Southeastern subgroup belong to the central Turkic languages, while the Northeastern, Khalaj language is the so-called peripheral language.

• Proto-Turkic
  • Southwestern (Oghuz)
    • Pecheneg (extinct)
    • Western
      • Turkish
      • Azerbaijani
      • Gagauz
      • Ottoman Turkish (extinct)
    • Eastern
      • Turkmen
      • Khorasani Turkish
    • Southern
      • Afshar
      • Qashqai
      • Salar
    • Crimean Tatar¹
    • Urum¹
  • Northwestern (Kypchak)
    • Kipchak (extinct)
    • Western
      • Karachay-Balkar
      • Kumyk
      • Karaim
      • Kypchak-Cuman (Kypchak-Oghuz, Ponto-Caspian) languages
        • Cuman (extinct)
        • Krymchak
    • Northern
      • Kypchak-Bolgar languages
        • Tatar
        • Bashkir
        • Baraba
    • Southern (Aralo-Kaspian)
      • Kypchak-Nogay languages
        • Kazakh
        • Karakalpak
        • Nogay
      • Kyrgyz-Kypchak group
        • Kyrgyz
        • Altay
    • Crimean Tatar¹
    • Urum¹
  • Southeastern (Uyghur, Chagatay, Karluk)
    • Old Turkic (extinct)
    • Chagatay (extinct)
    • Western
      • Uzbek
    • Eastern
      • Uyghur
        • Aini²
      • Lop
      • Ili Turki
  • Northeastern (Siberian Turkic)
    • Northern
      • Sakha / Yakut
      • Dolgan
    • Southern
      • Tuvan
      • Khakas
      • Shor
      • Fuyü Gïrgïs
      • Chulym
      • Tofa
      • Western Yugur (Yellow Uyghur)
  • Bolgar
    • • Khazar (extinct)
      • Bolgar (extinct)
      • Hunnic (extinct)
      • Chuvash
  • Khalaj³

¹Crimean Tatar and Urum are historically Kypchak languages, but have been so heavily influenced by Oghuz languages that it is difficult to classify them definitively as either Oghuz or Kypchak.

²Aini is a mixed language with Uyghur grammar and Persian vocabulary, and is spoken exclusively by adult men, almost as a cryptolect.

³Khalaj is surrounded by Oghuz languages, but exhibits a number of features that classify it as non-Oghuz.

[edit] Vocabulary comparison

The following is a brief comparison of the basic vocabulary across the Turkic language family (about 60 words). Note that empty cells do not imply that a particular language is lacking a word to describe the concept, but rather the word is formed from another stem and is not a cognate with the rest of the words in the row.

		Old Turkic	Turkish	Azeri	Turkmen	Tatar	Kazakh	Uzbek	Uyghur	Yakut	Chuvash
Persons	Father	Ata	Ata	Ata		Ata	Ata	Ota
	Mother	Ana	Anne	Ana	Ene	Ana	Ana	Ona	Ana		An'n
	Son	O'gul	Oğul	Oğul	Oğul	(O'g)ul	Ul	O'gil	Oghul	Uol	Yvul
	Man	Er(kek)	Erkek	Ər	Erkek	Ir	Erkek	Erkak	Är	Er	Ar
	Girl	Kyz	Kız	Qız	Qyz	Kız	Qız	Qiz	Qiz	Ky:s	Xe'r
	Person	Kiši	Kişi	Kişi	Kişi	Keše	Kisi	Kishi		Kihi
	Bride	Kelin	Gelin	Gəlin	Geli:n	Kilen	Kelin	Kelin	Kelin	Kylyn	Kilen
	Mother-in-law		Kaynana		Gayın ene	Kayınana	Qayın ene	Qayın ona	Keyınana
Body parts	Heart	Jürek	Yürek	Ürək	Ýürek	Yorak	Jürek	Yurak	Yüräk	Süreq
	Blood	Qan	Kan	Qan	Ga:n	Kan	Qan	Qon	Qan	Qa:n	Jon
	Head	Baš	Baş	Baş	Baş	Baš	Bas	Bosh	Baş	Bas	Puš
	Hair	Qıl	Kıl		Qyl	Kıl	Qıl		Kıl	Kıl	Xe'le'r
	Eye	Köz	Göz	Göz	Göz	Küz	Köz	Ko'z	Köz	Kos	Kör
	Eyelash	Kirpik	Kirpik	Kirpik	Kirpik	Kerfek	Kirpik	Kiprik	Kirpik	Kirbi:	Xurbuk
	Ear	Qulqaq	Kulak	Qulaq	Gulak	Kolak	Qulaq	Quloq	Qulaq	Gulka:k	Xo'lga
	Nose	Burun	Burun	Burun	Burun	Boryn	Murın	Burun	Burun	Murun
	Arm	Qol	Kol	Qol	Gol	Kul	Qol	Qo'l		Qol	Xol
	Hand	El(ig)	El	Əl	El		Alaqan			Ili:	Ala'
	Finger	Barmak	Parmak	Barmaq	Barmak	Barmak	Barmaq	Barmoq	Barmaq
	Fingernail	Tyrnaq	Tırnak	Dırnaq	Dyrnaq	Tyrnak	Tırnaq	Tirnoq	Tirnaq	Tynyraq
	Knee	Tiz	Diz	Diz	Dy:z	Tez	Tize	Tizza	Tiz	Tüsäχ
	Calf	Baltyr	Baldır	Baldır	Baldyr	Baltyr	Baldır	Boldyr	Baldir	Ballyr
	Foot	Adaq	Ayak	Ayaq	Aýaq	Ajak	Ayaq	Oyoq		Ataq
	Belly	Qaryn	Karın	Qarın	Garyn	Qaryn	Qarın	Qorin	Qor(saq)	Qaryn	Xyra'm
Animals	Horse	At	At	At	At	At	At	Ot	At	At	Ut
	Cattle	Siyir	Sığır		Sygyr	Sıyer	Sïır	Sigir
	Dog	Yt	It	It	It	Et	Ït	It	It	Yt	Jyda
	Fish	Balyq	Balık	Balıq	Balyk	Balyq	Balıq	Baliq	Beliq	Balyk	Pola'
	Louse	Bit	Bit	Bit	Bit	Bet	Bït	Bit	Pit	Byt	Pyjda
Other nouns	House	Ev	Ev	Ev	Öý	Öy	Üy	Uy	Öy		Av
	Tent	Otag	Otağ		Otaq		Otaw	Otoq		Otu:
	Way	Yol	Yol	Yol	Yo:l	Yul	Jol	Yo'l	Yol	Suol	Sol
	Bridge	Köprüq	Köprü	Körpü	Köpri	Küpar	Köpir	Ko'prik	Kövrük	Kürpe
	Arrow	Oq	Ok	Ox	Ok	Uk	Oq	O'q	Oq	Oχ	Ugu
	Fire	Ot	Od	Od	Ot	Ut	Ot	O't	Ot	Uot	Vot
	Ash	Kül	Kül	Kül	Kül	Köl	Kül	Kul	Kül	Kül	Kö'l
	Water	Suv	Su	Su	Suw	Syw	Sw	Suv	Su	Ui	Syv
	Ship	Kemi	Gemi	Gəmi	Gämi	Kimä	Keme	Kema			Kim
	Lake	Köl	Göl	Göl	Köl	Kül	Köl	Ko'l	Köl	Küöl
	Sun/Day	Küneš	Güneş	Günəş	Gün	Kojaš	Kün	Qujoş	Kün	Kün	Xövel
	Cloud	Bulut	Bulut	Bulud	Bulut	Bolyt	Bult	Bulut	Bulut	Bylyt	Pelet
	Star	Yulduz	Yıldız	Ulduz	Ýyldyz	Yoldyz	Juldız	Yulduz	Yultuz	Sulus	Soldor
	Earth	Topraq	Toprak	Torpaq	Toprak	Tufrak	Topıraq	Tuproq	Tupraq	Toburaχ	To'pra
	Hilltop	Töpü	Tepe	Təpə	Depe	Tübä	Töbe	Tepa		Töbö	Tübe'
	Tree	Yağac	Ağaç	Ağac	Agaç	Agaç	Ağaş	Daracht
	God	Tenri	Tanrı	Tanrı	Taňry		Täñiri	Tangre	Tängri	Tanara	Tura
	Sky	Kök	Gök	Göy	Gök	Kük	Kök	Ko'k	Kök	Küöq	Kovak
Adjectives	Long	Uzun	Uzun	Uzun	Uzyn	Ozyn	Uzın	Uzun	Uzun	Uhun	Vorom
	New	Yany	Yeni	Yeni	Yany	Yana	Jaña	Yangi	Yengi	Sana	Sene
	Fat	Semiz	Semiz		Semiz	Simyz	Semiz	Semiz	Semiz	Emis	Samar
	Full	Tolu	Dolu		Do:ly	Tuly	Tolı	To'la	Toluq	Toloru	Tolli
	White	Aq	Ak	Ağ	Ak	Ak	Aq	Oq	Aq
	Black	Qara	Kara	Qara	Gara	Kara	Qara	Qora	Qara	Xara	Xora
	Red	Qyzyl	Kızıl	Qızıl	Gyzyl	Kyzyl	Qızıl	Qizil	Qizil	Kyhyl	Xerle
Numbers	1	Bir	Bir	Bir	Bir	Ber	Bir	Bir	Bir	Bi:r	Perre
	2	Eki	İki	İki	Iki	İke	Eki	Ikki	Ikki	Ikki	Ikke'
	4	Tört	Dört	Dörd	Dö:rt	Dürt	Tört	To'rt	Töt	Tüört
	7	Yeti	Yedi	Yeddi	Yedi	Yide	Jeti	Jätte	Yättä	Sette
	10	On	On	On	O:n	U	On	O'n	On	Uon	Vonu
	100	Yüz	Yüz	Yüz	Yü:z	Yüz	Jüz	Yuz	Yüz	Sü:s	Ser
		Old Turkic	Turkish	Azeri	Turkmen	Tatar	Kazakh	Uzbek	Uyghur	Yakut	Chuvash

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.) (2005). Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Language Family Trees - Altaic (HTML). Retrieved on March 18, 2007.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Katzner, Kenneth (March 2002). Languages of the World, Third Edition. Routledge, an imprint of Taylor & Francis Books Ltd.. ISBN 978-0415250047. 
3. ^ Soucek, Svat (March 2000). A History of Inner Asia. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521651691. 
4. ^ Findley, Carter V. (October 2004). The Turks in World History. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-517726-6. 
5. ^ Johanson, Lars (2001). "Discoveries on the Turkic linguistic map" (PDF). Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul. Retrieved on 2007-03-18.
6. ^ Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.) (2005). Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Language Family Trees - Turkic (HTML). Retrieved on March 18, 2007.

[edit] Further reading

• Johanson, L. & Csató, E. Á. (eds.) 1998. The Turkic Languages. Routledge: London. ISBN 0-415-08200-5.
• Deny J. et al. 1959. Philologiae Turcicae Fundamenta. Wiesbaden.
• Schönig, C. 1997/1998. A new attempt to classify the Turkic languages (1-3). Turkic Languages 1/2.
• Clauson, G. 1972. An Etymological Dictionary of Pre-thirteenth-century Turkish. Oxford.

[edit] See also

• Altaic languages
• Old Turkic language
• Proto-Turkic language
• Orkhon script
• Historical linguistics
• Language families and languages

[edit] External links

• Map of Turkic languages
• Classification of Turkic Languages
• Online Uyghur-English Dictionary
• Turkic languages at the Open Directory Project (suggest site)

v • d • e Altaic languages
Turkic languages • Mongolic languages • Tungusic languages • Buyeo languages* Notes: *A hypothetical language family that includes Korean and the Japonic languages.

v • d • e Turkic languages
Bulgar	Bulgar*† | Chuvash | Hunnic*† | Khazar†
Uyghur	Old Turkic† | Aini²| Chagatay† | Ili Turki | Lop | Uyghur | Uzbek
Kypchak	Baraba | Bashkir | Crimean Tatar¹ | Cuman† | Karachay-Balkar | Karaim | Karakalpak | Kazakh | Kipchak† | Krymchak | Kumyk | Nogai | Tatar | Urum¹ | Altay | Kyrgyz
Oghuz	Afshar | Azerbaijani | Crimean Tatar¹ | Gagauz | Khorasani Turkish | Ottoman Turkish† | Pecheneg† | Qashqai | Salar | Turkish | Turkmen | Urum¹
Khalaj	Khalaj
Northeastern	Chulym | Dolgan | Fuyü Gïrgïs | Khakas | Northern Altay | Shor | Tofa | Tuvan | Western Yugur | Sakha / Yakut
Notes: ¹Listed in more than one group, ²Mixed language, *Disputed, †Extinct