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AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE INTERRELATIONS BETWEEN THE OGHUZ
DIALECTS AND THE TURKMEN LANGUAGE AND ITS DIALECTS
Sa’dullayeva Mokhira Sobirovna
PhD student at Navoi State University
E-mail:
Abstract.
This article provides a detailed discussion of the relationship between the
Oghuz dialects and the Turkmen language and its dialects. Systematization of the collected
factual sources proves the validity of the points presented below, and based on these, the
polysemantic words occurring in the Oghuz Uzbek dialects and in the Turkmen language and its
dialects have been classified into the following groups: Words common to the Oghuz dialect and
Turkmen dialects, but not found in the Turkmen literary language; Words used in common in the
Uzbek literary language, the Oghuz dialect, and the dialects of the Turkmen language; Words
common to the Oghuz dialect and the Turkmen dialects, but used through other forms of lexical
units in the Uzbek and Turkmen literary languages; Words common to the Turkmen dialects and
the Uzbek literary language, as compared to the Oghuz dialect and the Turkmen literary
language. Examples of polysemantic words corresponding to each group are provided.
Keywords:
Oghuz dialect, polysemantic word, Turkmen language, literary language,
dialect, lexical unit, word, region, Bukhara, Khorezm.
Introduction:
For centuries, Turkmens and Uzbeks have lived on the same land,
maintaining close neighborly relations. Shared historical roots, as well as bonds formed through
weddings, interfamily ties, and mutual visits, have brought the Uzbek and Turkmen peoples even
closer together. In Uzbekistan, there are educational institutions operating in the Turkmen
language at various levels, including higher education, secondary education, and preschool. “At
present, the majority of Turkmens in the Khorezm oasis reside in the following areas: in Urgench
district (Salyr tribe), in Bogot district (northern Yomut, Chovdur, and Igdir tribes), in Shovot
district (northern Yomut and Ata tribes), in Dashoguz province (northern dialect of the Yomut,
Chovdur, Qoradoshli, and Emreli tribes), in Forob and Darganata—bordering Khorezm and
Bukhara (Ata and Kirach tribes), as well as in the Republic of Karakalpakstan’s Turtkul, Beruniy,
and Ellikkala districts (Ata, Igdir, Dueji, Goklen, and Arabachi tribes)”. [1: 4,7]
It cannot be concluded that the common features of polysemantic words in the Oghuz
dialect and the Turkmen language dialects are solely the result of words borrowed from Turkmen
into the Oghuz dialects or vice versa. This is because, in their historical formation, both were
influenced by ancient Oghuz tribes, and the core of their lexical composition consists of common
Turkic words characteristic of all Turkic tribes. If any of these were related to a different
language system, it would have been easier to determine the primary basis of similarities and the
polysemantic units formed under mutual influence. However, such an assumption cannot be
made about the Turkmens living in our country. The living conditions and daily occupations of
Turkmens in our homeland are largely the same, and for this reason, it is natural for the
population speaking the Oghuz dialect to have an influence on the Turkmens. S. Arazkuliyev
notes that “labial harmony is strong in the Turkmen literary language, whereas among the
Turkmens of Uzbekistan, vowel harmony is as weak as in the local Uzbek dialects; vowel length
is also found mostly in the first syllable”. [2: 72,73]
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Methodology:
The polysemantic units found and preserved in the Oghuz Uzbek dialects,
the Turkmen language, and its dialects demonstrate the existence of numerous words linking
them through kinship relations. During the study, it was observed that some polysemantic lexical
units are absent in the Turkmen literary language and its central and western dialects, or that
certain words occurring in the Oghuz Uzbek dialects and in nearby Turkmen dialects are not
recorded in the Uzbek literary language. It was also noted that the majority of words in the
Oghuz dialects, the Turkmen language, and its dialects occur more frequently in the Bukhara
Oghuz dialects. Nevertheless, when the collected factual sources are systematized, they confirm
the validity of the points mentioned above. Taking this into account, the polysemantic words
found in the Oghuz Uzbek dialects and in the Turkmen language and its dialects have been
classified into the following groups:
1. Words common to the Oghuz dialect and Turkmen dialects, but not found in the
Turkmen literary language:
Oghuz s
ə
ŋ // QTSh.
sе
ŋ
.
1. Large ice floes drifting in the river
during spring. 2. A meteorological phenomenon in which rain falls to the ground in a frozen
form resembling snow. Cf. Persian–Tajik “tosh” (“stone”); Oghuz təndar // QTSh, Emr., Ata.,
Chand. tenda:r — “healthy, sound”. Turkmen Literary Language gurun. 1. Healthy, well, robust.
2. Fat, well-fed, mature (of livestock). Cf.: In the Khiva dialect — tetik (“vigorous”). [3 : 162]
Oghuz Uzbeks, QTSh, Chov., Ata. dialect — from Arabic z
ȉ
ya:pat: 1. A social gathering or
friendly meeting held in turn among friends, companions, or close relatives, usually once a week
or month. 2. The act of giving or sharing surplus produce or similar items as gifts; Oghuz partav
// QTSh, Emr., Sar., Kirach parta:v “uncultivated land”: 1. Land left unsown. 2. Land suitable for
cultivation but remaining undeveloped; Oghuz
дүткəш
dütkəsh // Ata., Emr., QTSh, Chov.
düytkeş “chimney”: 1. A designated opening in a stove for the outlet of smoke or dust. 2. The
exhaust pipe of a car or similar machinery. Oghuz a:va // Nox., Chand., Ata. ava “uncle”: 1. The
father’s brother, either elder or younger. 2. An elder brother; Oghuz a:ğaş // Ata., QTSh, Taka.,
Axal. ağash “gashtak”: 1. A small post-wedding feast held after a bride is sent to her husband’s
home. 2. A feast given by herders at the beginning of the lambing season; Oghuz ajıyāğ //
Western Yomut, Taka., Axal., Northern Yomut ajıyāğ “edible oil”: 1. Cottonseed oil. 2. Oil
applied as a remedy against ringworm; Oghuz azmaq // Ata., QTSh, Yomut, Northern Yomut,
Arsari āzmaq “to lose weight, to become weak”: 1. To be humiliated, to suffer oppression or
injustice. 2. To lose weight, to become emaciated. 3. To feel nauseous, to have discomfort in the
stomach, to vomit. Oghuz aq // Arsar., Sak. ā:q “soured milk”: 1. Yogurt from which the butter
has been removed. 2. Thin yogurt; Oghuz aka // Gok., Sari., Sal., Saq., QTSh ā:kğa “father”:
This word is pronounced in Turkmen and its dialects with primary vowel length. 1. Father, dad. 2.
Ancestor; Oghuz ā:lvanç // Kirach., QTSh alvanç “swing”: 1. Cradle swing. 2. Carousel; Oghuz
apparmoq // Xas., QTSh aparmağ “to carry, to take along”: 1. To deliver, to convey. 2. To die, to
pass away; Oghuz ajina // Arsar. ajī:ne // QTSh jın // Sal. ajinna “ajina”: 1. Demon, devil. 2.
Wrath, anger; Oghuz gülvənt // Arsar. gülvent “ornament worn around the neck by women”: 1.
Headscarf. 2. Decorative cover placed on a knife handle; Oghuz nərrı // Taka., Axal., Gok. nerrı
“a ewe deprived of its lamb”: 1. Separating ewes from their lambs. 2. Ewes that have ceased
lambing and are sent for slaughter.
2. Words used in common in the Uzbek literary language, the Oghuz dialect, and the
dialects of the Turkmen language:
Oghuz dıkləmək // Arsar., QTSh diklemek “to erect, to set
up”: 1. To establish, to organize an institution or a similar center. 2. To rise, to ascend, to elevate,
to stand tall; Oghuz zıl // Taka., Axal., Northern Yomut, QTSh, Ata. zı:l “very, extremely,
completely”: 1. Entirely, wholly, completely. 2. Always, permanently, constantly; Oghuz iləri //
Taka., Axal., Taka., Mari. ileri “forward, ahead”: 1. Forward, leading, pioneering. 2. South-
westward, toward the qibla. Oghuz yərtı // Sar., QTSh, Arsar., Northern Yomut, Ata. yā:rtı
“yorti”: 1. Crippled, disabled, paralyzed. 2. Foolish, silly, feeble-minded; Oghuz yasavul // Al.,
QTSh, Ata. yasavul “yasovul”: 1. A person responsible for maintaining order during feasts,
ceremonies, and celebrations. 2. Serviceman, soldier; Oghuz kəpmək // Arsar. kepmek // STSh
kepüv “to dry, to wither”: 1. To dry up, to wither, to become desiccated. 2. To be chopped, cut,
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or sawn; Oghuz ötmək // Kirach., QTSh, Sak., Es., Emr., Arsar., Northern Yomut, Öl., Chov.,
Sar., STSh ötmək “to pass, to go through”: 1. To enter, to go inside, to pass by. 2. To finish, to
complete, to bring to an end. 3. To cut, to divide into pieces. 4. To overtake an opponent by
running, to surpass in a competition. 5. Used in expressions such as “a river flows past the
house” or “negotiations proceed naturally.” Oghuz tɵkmək // An., Nox. tɵkməx // Turkm.
guymak “to pour, to spill”: 1. To display grandeur, to scatter or spread. 2. To pour, to cast;
Oghuz tünt // Western Yomut, QTSh tünt “a reserved, taciturn person”: 1. Dense, bitter liquid. 2.
A person who speaks little and does not mingle with the public; Oghuz çapmaq // Sak., Arsar.,
Taka., Axal., Öl., Gok., Ata. “to strike, to attack”: 1. To plunder, to slay with a sword, to seize. 2.
To run, to move forward swiftly; Oghuz çəkmək // Taka., Axal., Arsar., Sar. çekmek “to grind, to
pull”: 1. To crush grain, to mill grain, to grind into smaller pieces. 2. To take snuff, to place
under the tongue. 3. To receive, to host as a guest.
3.
Words common to the Oghuz dialect and Turkmen dialects, but used in different
forms in the Uzbek and Turkmen literary languages:
Oghuz bellemek // Arsar., QTSh, Teka.,
Axal., Western Yomut bellemek “to designate, to determine”: 1. To plan, to expect by setting a
target, to define. 2. To memorize, to keep in memory, to retain; Oghuz bıy // Arsar., Sak., Sal. bi
“khan, official”: 1. Khan, ruler. 2. The large or prominent appearance of the neck; Oghuz
bırtıkejik // Gok. bırtıkejik “a little, a small amount”: 1. Small, about the size of a fist. 2. A tiny
portion, a pinch; Oghuz ğapmaq // Northern Yomut ğapmaq “to bite”: 1. The act of a predatory
animal attacking a person and causing injury by biting. To close the door; Oghuz dəpmə //
Western Yomut, Taka., Mari., QTSh, Ata. depme “large pestle for pounding rice”: 1. A large
vessel resembling a jar in which roasted grain is placed. 2. A tool used for pounding rice; Oghuz
zeŋı // Gok., QTSh, Ata. zeŋŋı “ladder”: 1. Ladder. 2. A wooden fixture placed at the front part
of a cart; Oghuz yerləmək // Western Yomut, Taka., Axal. yerlemek “to place, to arrange”: 1. To
settle, to adapt, to become accustomed. 2. To bury, to inter, to place in the grave. 3. To regularly
feed domestic animals with fodder; Oghuz köpçın // Western Yomut, Northern Yomut, Sal.,
QTSh küpcek // küpçök “woolen mattress”: 1. A small mattress filled with wool or straw. 2. The
axle of a cart wheel.
sančqı //
Western Yomut, QTSh, Ata. sančğı “fishing implement”: 1. Fork.
2. A hunting tool equipped with a forked spearhead used to strike and catch fish from above;
Oghuz səraj // Taka., Axal. saray “palace” // Turkm. saray “royal palace”: 1. A place where
horses are kept, a stable. 2. A covered area for large livestock markets, a marketplace, a
caravanserai. 3. A large house or building. 4. The residence of kings; Oghuz sı:n // Arsar., Sar.,
QTSh, Taka., Axal., Ata. sı:n “hem”: 1. The lower edge or part of something. 2. To find a flaw or
defect; Oghuz urmaq // Sak., Arsar. urmak “to throw, to strike”: 1. To throw, to aim at a target. 2.
To play a percussion instrument such as a drum or tambourine by striking. 3. To steal, to snatch
.
Oghuz üzeňňı // Northern Yomut, Taka. Axal. üzöňňü // QTSh, Ata. zeňňı “ladder, steelyard”: 1.
Ladder. 2. A device for measuring weight; Oghuz üçek // Arsar., Northern Yomut, Mur., Chov.,
QTSh, Ata. üçek // Nox. üçəx “roof top”: 1. The secondary or lower part built at the edge of an
elevated place. 2. The upper part of a roof; Oghuz çalmaq // Sar., Taka. Axal. çalmaq “to clean”:
1. To sweep, to clear off. 2. To weave, to lay down; Oghuz çuğmaq // Western Yomut, Sar.
çoğmaq “to simmer”: 1. To boil slowly. 2. To be angry, to provoke anger; Oghuz še:razi // Sar.,
Arsar., Taka. Mari. čıra:zi “Karakul pelt”: 1. Karakul pelt with a bluish shade. 2. A pattern
resembling that on Karakul pelt. 3. A hat made from Karakul pelt; Oghuz ša:l // Kirach., Arsar.,
Sar., Northern Yomut “shawl”: 1. A large shawl woven from wool. 2. A small carpet woven
from sheep’s wool.
4
.
Words common to the Turkmen dialects and the Uzbek literary language, as
compared to the Oghuz dialect and the Turkmen literary language:
Oghuz barmaq // Goklan,
Murcheli, Kirach, Karakalpakstan Turkmen, Salyr barmak “to go.” 1. To apply various colors to
a carpet. 2. To leave, depart. 3. To wash one’s hands and sit at the table, to pass over. 4. To visit
or go to a place many times; Oghuz bäk // Stavropol Turkmen, Nokhur bek “closed.” 1. Shut,
locked. 2. Excellent, good; Oghuz bet // Chowdur, Karakalpakstan Turkmen, Stavropol Turkmen
bet // vet “face, side.” 1. Face, countenance, visage. 2. Side, direction, edge. 3. Page of a book or
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notebook; Oghuz bılmek // Arsari, Taka Akhal bilmek “to know.” 1. To understand, to
comprehend. 2. To learn, to master a craft or profession; Oghuz gıtmäk // Goklan, Taka Akhal,
Karakalpakstan Turkmen, Murcheli, Arsari gitmek “to go.” 1. To cease, to be relieved, to die. 2.
To flow, to sink in water. 3. To complete, to reach the end, to finish. 4. To depart, to disperse.
Oghuz. qoymaq // qtsh., o‘l., sak., nox. ğoymaq “to place, put”. 1. To take and set aside for
oneself. 2. To sign, to affix a signature. 3. To send, dispatch, or appoint a matchmaker; Oghuz.
lə:lı // qtsh., arsar., ata. lə:lı // sar. lə:le “tin plate”. 1. A plate made of porcelain. 2. A dish
intended for serving pilaf or similar foods; Oghuz. oŋarmaq // arsar. oŋarmak “to repair”. 1. To
prepare, make arrangements. 2. To construct, accomplish, or discipline. Oghuz. pılık // qtsh.,
shim.yomut. pılık // arsar. pılek “wick”. 1. A notched clay piece inserted into the opening of a
waterpipe bowl to prevent tobacco from spilling. 2. A lamp wick. salmaq // garb.yomut.,
shim.yomut., taka.axal., taka.mari., qtsh., arsar., sak. salmaq “to put, to place”. 1. To spread, to
lay out. 2. To serve food, to begin eating. 3. To pour water for washing hands. 4. To attach,
fasten, connect; Oghuz. soramaq // gok., mur., arsar., sak., o‘l., emr. so:ramak “to ask”. 1. To
govern the land, to rule. 2. To ask, to request permission; Oghuz. suzmaq // arsar., o‘l. susmaq
“to strain”. 1. To pour tea through a strainer. 2. To cut or deal cards; Oghuz. sı:nmaq // al., arsar.,
taka.axal., chov. sı:nmak // kirach. sı:nmek // an. sınməx // stsh. sı:nuv // turkm. dövelmek “to
break, to be broken”. 1. To weaken, lose strength, diminish in size. 2. To break, shatter, destroy
completely
.
Oghuz. taplamaq // garb.yomut., arsar. ta:plamaq // Turkm. dağlamak, o:da tutmaq
“to temper, to anneal”. 1. To temper or roast metal or meat products by exposing them to fire. 2.
To be toughened or hardened through physical labor or endurance; Oghuz. tutmaq // arsar., o‘l.,
kirach., qtsh., taka.axal. tutmaq “to hold, to seize”. 1. To bring prosperity, abundance, or yield. 2.
To freeze, referring to a river freezing early. 3. To reach, to be fulfilled, to have one’s life end. 4.
To choose, to occupy, to take possession of; Oghuz. hä // xas., arsar., sar., shim.yomut. hä: “yes”.
1. Which. 2. Yes; Oghuz. chaqmaq // arsar., o‘l. chaqmaq “to strike, to clean”. 1. To beat cotton
to separate the fiber from the seed. 2. To cut, trim, or clean by shaving; Oghuz. chatlamaq //
taka.axal. chatlamaq “to crack, to break”. 1. To break, to develop a crack. 2. To die, to pass away.
In conclusion,
the polysemantic words that are similar in form in the Oghuz dialect, the
Turkmen language, and its dialects are, in some cases, alike, but in others differ in meaning.
Such factors are found mainly within the set of words of Common Turkic origin and those
borrowed from other languages.
REFERENCES USED:
1. Anon. An outline of the dialects of the Turkmen language [Türrkmen diliniň dialektleriniň
oçerki] (in Turkmen). Turkmenistan, Ashgabat., 1970.
2. Amansariyev, J. Turkmen dialectology [Türrkmen dialektologiyasy] (in Turkmen).
Turkmenistan, Ashgabat., 1970.
3. Shikhiev, A. Turkmen dialects of the Bukhara Region [Туркменские говоры Бухарской
области] (in Russian). Uzbekistan, Nukus: Bilim, 1996.
4. Arazkuliyev, S. Some information about the speech of the Khorezm Turkmens [Horezm
türkmenleriniň gepleşikleri barada käbir maglumatylar] (in Turkmen). Russia, Moscow: Series of
Social Sciences, 1978.
5. Madrahimov, O. Lexicon of the Oghuz dialect of the Uzbek language [O‘zbek tilining o‘g‘uz
shevasi leksikoni] (in Uzbek). Uzbekistan, Tashkent: Fan, 1973.
6. Anon. Dictionary of the Turkmen language [Türrkmen diliniň sözlügi] (in Turkmen).
Turkmenistan, Ashgabat: Ylym, 1962.
7. Arazkuliyev, S. Turkmen dialects of the Dörtgül District of the Karakalpak ASSR
[Garagalpagystan ASSR-nyñ Dörtgül raýonyndaky türkmen gepleşikleri] (in Turkmen).
Turkmenistan, Ashgabat: Ylym, 1961.
8. Arazkuliyev, S. Dialects of the Turkmens of the Turtkul District of the Karakalpak ASSR
[Говоры туркмен Турткульского района Каракалпакской АССР] (in Russian). Turkmenistan,
Ashgabat., 1962. (Abstract of the Candidate of Philological Sciences dissertation).
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9. Arazkuliyev, S., S. Atanyazov, R. Berdiev, and G. Saparova. Concise dialectological
dictionary of the Turkmen language [Türrkmen diliniň gysgaça dialektologik sözlügi] (in
Turkmen). Turkmenistan, Ashgabat: Ylym, 1977.
10. Arazkuliyev, S. Names of food and dishes in the speech of the Karakalpakstan Turkmens
[Garagalpagystan türkmenleriniň gepleşikleri: azyk–nahar atlary] (in Turkmen). In Dialect
vocabulary [Dialekt leksikasy] (in Turkmen), Turkmenistan, Ashgabat: Ylym, 1980.
11. Atanyazov, S. Explanatory dictionary of Turkmen personal names [Толковый словарь
туркменских личных имён] (in Russian). Turkmenistan, Ashgabat: Turkmenistan, 1992.
12. Atanyazov, S. Explanatory dictionary of the geographical names of Turkmenistan
[Türrkmenistanyñ geografik atlarynyň düşündirişli sözlügi] (in Turkmen). Turkmenistan,
Ashgabat: Ylym, 1980.
13. Atanyazov, S. Toponymy of Turkmenistan [Türrkmenistanyñ toponimýasy] (in Turkmen).
Turkmenistan, Ashgabat: Ylym, 1981.
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atlarynyň düşündirişli sözlügi] (in Turkmen). Turkmenistan, Ashgabat: Ylym, 1992.
List of symbols:
// – Indicates the parallel use of two linguistic facts.
: – Indicates vowel length
( ) – A sound that tends to be omitted in pronunciation is placed in parentheses.
Languages, dialects, subdialects, varieties, and other types of abbreviations
ar. – Arabic language; arabach. – Arabachi dialect of the Turkmen language; ars. – Arsari
dialect of the Turkmen language; ata. – Ata dialect of the Turkmen language; gok. – Goklan
dialect of the Turkmen language; dueji. – Dueji dialect of the Turkmen language; emr. – Emreli
dialect of the Turkmen language; kir. – Kirach dialect of the Turkmen language; no‘. – Nokhur
dialect of the Turkmen language; ozar. – Azerbaijani language; rus. – Russian language; sal. –
Salyr dialect of the Turkmen language; sar. – Saryk dialect of the Turkmen language; saq. –
Sakar dialect of the Turkmen language; stsh. – Turkmen dialects spoken in Stavropol; taka axal.
– Akhal subdialect of the Taka dialect; taka mari – Mari subdialect of the Taka dialect; tat. –
Tatar language; toj. – Tajik language; turk. – Turkish language; turkm.ad.tili – Literary Turkmen
language; turkm. – Turkmen language; fors-toj. – Persian–Tajik languages; xas. – Hasarli dialect
of the Turkmen language; chov. – Chowdur dialect of the Turkmen language; shim.yomut. –
Northern group dialects of the Yomut dialect; es. – Esari dialect of the Turkmen language; Uzb –
Literary Uzbek language; o‘l. – Olam dialect of the Turkmen language; o‘g‘uz – Oghuz dialect
of the Uzbek language; qaradosh. – Karadoshli dialect of the Turkmen language; qtsh. –
Turkmen dialects of Karakalpakstan; cf. – compare.
