Mütefekkir

Abstract

Religion is a significant phenomenon to which the variables occurring in the cultures of nations are largely linked. In this context, religious terminology reflects the conceptual world of societies based on the beliefs of nations. Through studies of lexical inventory, it is possible to determine the processes through which elements of socio-cultural change and development have undergone, from the periods when nations first appeared in history to the eras in which they have continued to exist. Every nation has preserved its religious vocabulary alongside its own, regardless of the belief system it has adhered to. Turks, who have a nomadic lifestyle, have joined various religious groups in the regions
they have travelled to. Due to this diversity, the Turkish language has undergone constant change in terms of its vocabulary. The Karamanids, who lived alongside Christians and Jews in their region, were a Turkish tribe belonging to the Avsar clan. For this reason, they used religious terminology belonging to ancient Turkish culture, passed down from generation to generation through language. In this study, the religious vocabulary of the work entitled Kitab-ı Karamaniyye, written by the poet known by the pen name Şikârî, has been evaluated under thematic subject headings. Thus, words and word groups specific to the Karamanids in terms of religious terminology in Turkish culture have been identified.