The Historical Development of the Turkish Language

1. Altaic Period (Disputed)

• It is thought that Turkish originated from a common root with the Altaic languages before it became an independent language.

• Since there are no written sources, this period is considered hypothetical.

2. Earliest Turkish Period (Before Christ – 6th Century AD)

• Turkish began to gain its identity as an independent language.

• There are no direct written sources from this period; however, it is considered the precursor stage of Turkish.

3. Old Turkish Period (6th–13th Centuries)

• This is the period when Turkish first appeared in written documents.

• Gokturk Turkish (Orkhon Inscriptions, 8th Century) → The first written Turkish texts.

• Old Uyghur Turkish (9th–13th Centuries) → Religious and literary works under the influence of Manichaeism and Buddhism.

4. Middle Turkish Period (13th–15th Centuries)

• The period when Turkish spread to different geographies and developed various dialects.

• Karakhanid Turkish (Kutadgu Bilig, Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk).

• Khwarezmian and Kipchak Turkish (works like Qisas al-Anbiya).

• Chagatai Turkish (works of Ali-Shir Nava’i).

5. New Turkish Period (15th–20th Centuries)

• The pre-modern stage of the Turkish language.

• Old Anatolian Turkish (13th–15th Centuries): Oghuz Turkish became the written language in Anatolia (Yunus Emre, Âşık Paşa).

• Ottoman Turkish (15th–20th Centuries): Developed under the strong influence of Arabic and Persian. It was the language of Divan literature and official correspondence.

• Chagatai Turkish continued in Central Asia.

6. Modern Turkish Period (20th Century – Present)

• The Latin alphabet was adopted with the Alphabet Reform in 1928.

• The language simplification and “Turkification” movement began with the establishment of the Turkish Language Association (Türk Dil Kurumu) in 1932.

• Today’s Turkey Turkish developed as the modern written language.

In summary, the periods are:

• Altaic Period (hypothetical)

• Earliest Turkish

• Old Turkish (Gokturk, Old Uyghur)

• Middle Turkish (Karakhanid, Khwarezmian, Kipchak, Chagatai)

• New Turkish (Old Anatolian, Ottoman Turkish)

• Modern Turkish (Turkey Turkish)

Educational Opportunities in Turkish Language and Literature

For those who wish to study the rich history and literary heritage of the Turkish language, various educational opportunities are available. For those aspiring to an academic career in this field, university departments of Turkish Language and Literature are the most ideal choice.

In these departments, students take a wide range of courses, from Old Anatolian Turkish to Ottoman Turkish, and from folk literature to modern Turkish literature. Additionally, they gain competence in subjects such as linguistics, textual analysis, and critical thinking.

Besides university education, you can also find courses on Turkish language, literature, and history on online platforms or in private institutions. These courses can offer an opportunity to gain more in-depth knowledge by focusing on specific topics.