The Etymology and Historical Development of the Words "Uyu-" and "Uyku" in Turkish

Abstract

Turkish is a language that has been spoken by various Turkic tribes for centuries. From the earliest written sources of the Turkish language—the Orkhon Inscriptions—to the present day, Turkish words have undergone both semantic and morphological changes. During the historical transition from the adoption of Manichaeism and Buddhism by the Uighurs to the later acceptance of Islam, etymological studies and dictionaries were compiled as documentation of these linguistic transformations. These efforts have contributed significantly to the preservation of the Turkish language and its continuity in historical memory, thereby helping to safeguard the richness of our linguistic heritage. Etymological studies conducted by Turkologists have continued into the modern era. In this context, the phonetic and morphological changes of the words uyku (sleep) and uyu- (to sleep) will be examined. The study investigates the status and usage of these words across various stages of the Turkish language, including the Orkhon, Uighur, Karakhanid, Khwarezmian, Chagatai, Old Anatolian Turkish, and Turkey Turkish periods. Examples from relevant texts have been provided. Additionally, the use of these words in historical and modern Turkic dialects has been incorporated into the study through analysis of dictionaries and academic sources. The phonetic and morphological evolutions of uyku and uyu- are traced through the Orkhon inscriptions, various works from the Uighur Turkish period, texts from the Khwarezmian Turkish era, and selected Chagatai and Old Anatolian Turkish sources.