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Department of the Languages and Cultures of the Near and Middle East

The History and Development of the Turkish Language

Course Code:
155900992
Status:
Course Not Running 2012/2013
Unit value:
1
Taught in:
Full Year

The course covers key aspects of the history of the Turkic languages through a close reading and analysis of selected texts that reflect the various stages of language development. The main issue to be examined is the degree of continuity between the language of the Old Turkic Orkhon inscriptions and Ottoman/Modern Turkish. Special attention is paid to the conditions under which written or literary Turkic languages developed and flourished and the impact of major political-cultural transformations on the literary language. Particular emphasis is given to issues of orthography.

Prerequisites

Good working knowledge of any Turkic language.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the course

A survey of the historical development of the Turkish language, will form an introduction to the field of Turcology.

Workload

The course will normally consist of two one-hour classes weekly. Short essays and book reviews are set throughout the year as preparation for the assessed essays.

Scope and syllabus

Main areas to be covered:

  • The Orkhon inscriptions and the so-called runic script;
  • Manichean and Buddhist texts and the so-called Uighur script;
  • Karakhanid and Chagatay literature and the Arabic script;
  • Ottoman (Anatolian) Turkish literature and the Arabic script.

Method of assessment

One written examination (80% of the final mark); two assessed essays of approx. 2500 words each, due on the last day of Term 2 and the first day of Term 3 respectively (together 20%).

Suggested reading

  • Clauson, Sir Gerald, 1972. An Etymological Dictionary of Pre-thirteenth-Century Turkish. Oxford. 
  • Dankoff, Robert, and James Kelly, 1982. 
  • MaË™mËd al-KÃ¥s£©arÂ¥, Compendium of the Turkic Dialects (DÂ¥wÃ¥n Lu©åt at-Turk). Sources of Oriental Languages and Literatures, Turkish Sources, vol. 7. 3 vols. 
  • Deny, Jean, Kaare Grønbech, Helmuth Scheel and Zeki Velidi Togan, edd., 1959. Philologiae Turcicae Fundamenta. Vol. 1. Wiesbaden. 
  • Eckmann, János, 1966. Chagatay Manual. Bloomington. 
  • Golden, P. B., 1992. An Introduction to the History of the Turkic Peoples. Ethnogenesis and State-Formation in Medieval and Early Modern Eurasia and the Middle East. Turcologica,9. Wiesdaden. 
  • Klimkeit, H-J., 1990. "Buddhism in Turkish Central Asia." Numen, 37: 53-69. 
  • Klimkeit, Hans-Joachim, 1982. Manichaean Art and Calligraphy. 
  • Leiden. Malov, S. E., 1951. Pamjatniki drevnetjurskoj pis'mennosti. Teksty i isledovanija. Moscow. 
  • Mansuro©lu, Mecdut, 1954. "The Rise and Development of Written Turkish in Anatolia." Oriens, 7: 250-264. 
  • Pritsak, O., 1988. "The Distinctive Featrures of the 'Pax Nomadica'." Settimane si studio del Centro italiano di studi sull'alto medioevo, 35: Popoli delle steppe: Uni , Avari, Ungari. Spoleto, 23-29 aprile 1987. 
  • Spoleto. Tekin SÇinasi, 1975. "Uygur Edebiyat∫n Meseleleri." Türk Kül†ürü Arasçt∫rmalar∫, 2: 26-58. 
  • Tekin, SÇinasi, 1991. "MeË™emmed bin BÃ¥lÂ¥'nin Eski Anadolu Türkcçesine Aktard∫©∫ "GËzÂ¥de" Adl∫ Eserin Harzem Türkcçesindeki Asl∫ ve Ola-Bol©a Meselesi Hakk∫nda." Journal of Turkish Studies, 15: 405-420. 
  • Togan, Z. V., 1964. "The Earlest Translation of the Qu'ran into Turkish." ıslam Tedkikleri Enstitüsü Dergisi, 3/1-2: 134-140; 4/1-2: 1-19.