Abstract
ON THE ETIMOLOGICAL DICTIONARIES OF MODERN TURKISH
Etimology explores the origin of words in a language. It focuses on whether the word exists in the oldest texts of the language, and if it is taken from another language, which language it is. Also, it works on the formal and semantic changes that words go through.
In this study, some of the etimological dictionaries of Modern Turkish were examined. These dictionaries have been selected considering the general interests and needs of those doing academic studies in the field of Turkish language today. The etimological dictionaries discussed in the study are listed in chronological order according to the first edition years as follows: Martti Räsänen-Versuch eines etymologischen Wörterbuchs der Türksprachen (1969), Gerhard Clauson-An Etymological Dictionary of Pre-Thirteenth Century Turkish (1972), İsmet Zeki Eyuboğlu-Türk Dilinin Köken Bilgisi Sözlüğü (1988), Hasan Eren-Türk Dilinin Etimolojik Sözlüğü (1999), Andreas Tietze-Tarihi ve Etimolojik Türkiye Türkçesi Lugatı (2002), Sevan Nişanyan-Sözlerin Soyağacı (2002), Tuncer Gülensoy-Türkiye Türkçesindeki Türkçe Sözcüklerin Köken Bilgisi Sözlüğü (2006).
Two headings were chosen from each of these dictionaries. Then, the methods and abbreviations which lexicographers use for explaining these headings and giving the etimological information; showing their forms in historical or modern Turkish languages or whether they are quoted or not; explaining what language it is based on if its quoted, are determined and explained. In the light of all these data, it was possible to make a comparison about the way dictionaries deal with the headings, their explanations and their scope, and to identify some deficiencies.
Keywords
Modern Turkish, grammer, etimology, dictionary, etimological dictionary.
