Compound suffixes in North-West Turkic dialects (Kazakh-Kyrgyz-Tatar-Bashkir-Karakalpak-Karachay Balkar Turkic)

Our study aims to examine the origins and structural characteristics of compound suffixes found in contemporary Northwestern Turkic dialects within a diachronic framework extending from Chaghatay Turkish to the present day. In this regard, the historical development, morphological structure, and inter-dialectal distribution of compound suffixes are discussed through a comparative approach. In the introduction, the concept of grammaticalization is first defined, and the fundamental principles of grammaticalization theory, along with their relevance to compound suffixes, are outlined. Subsequently, the notion of the compound suffix is explained, and a theoretical framework is established in line with previous studies on the topic. In the main body of the study, compound suffixes are classified according to their structural properties, and the historical origins and inter-dialectal usage patterns of each class are examined in detail. Based on the findings obtained through this classification, both the historical developmental trajectory and the functional status of compound suffixes within today's Northwestern Turkic dialects are analyzed, leading to the overall conclusions of the study. Keywords: North-West Turkic Dialects,Compound Suffixes,Grammaticalization, Etymology