Profession names in Seyahatname (the Book of Travels) of Evliya Çelebi

The Ottoman Turkish period is a time when important works were produced in the Turkish language. The Seyahatname, written by Evliya Çelebi in the 17th century, is an important book written in Ottoman Turkish using a simple prose style. This study aims to examine in detail the profession names mentioned in the Seyahatname, in order to reveal the richness of both the Turkish language and Turkish culture, and to present it to the academic world. The study was also carried out to add new findings to previous research on the topic. By scanning Evliya Çelebi's Seyahatname, a total of 1,436 profession names were identified. These professions were classified into thirteen concept categories based on their meanings and the fields they are related to. In the examined work, the identified concept areas related to profession names are as follows: public services, trade-related work, hunting and hunter-related jobs, education and teaching, religious services, craftsmanship and arts, agriculture and animal-related work, food and beverage services, mining, healthcare, service sector jobs, cultural work, and immoral professions. To provide a more holistic perspective, a table of profession names was created. In order to highlight the richness of the Turkish language and culture in the context of profession names, a dictionary of professions and related concepts was also prepared. The historical background of each concept area related to profession names was examined, starting from the Asian Huns up to the 17th century. The meanings of unknown profession names were clarified by consulting historical dictionaries. The profession names listed under each concept area were explained based on the information provided by Evliya Çelebi. At the end of each concept area, evaluations were made. The study revealed several important findings, including: the ratio of profession names within each concept area, a table of profession names, the ways professions were named, common phrases used while performing these professions, archaic expressions related to job titles, the first known practitioners of these professions known as meslek pirleri (profession founders), the folk medicine practices applied by these founders, and the rituals performed during the practice of these professions. By examining in detail the profession names found in the Seyahatname based on the information provided by Evliya Çelebi, it has been revealed that the Turkish language possesses a rich vocabulary related to profession names. Keywords: Evliya Çelebi, Vocabulary, Profession Names, Seyahatname