Law enforcement and military service in the folk songs of the TRT Turkish Folk Music Repertoire

Folk songs, which are part of Anatolia's rich cultural heritage, have a history spanning centuries and serve as significant documents reflecting the life, emotions, and values of the Anatolian people. Folk songs are not only distinguished by their melodies and lyrics but also by the themes and motifs they contain, which reflect a profound cultural texture. This thesis focuses on the representation and role of law enforcement and military service in the folk songs of the TRT THM (Turkish Folk Music) Repertoire. In the TRT THM Repertoire, there are many folk songs that express the emotions and thoughts of individuals who undertake military service not as a professional duty but as part of their mandatory national service, as well as those of their loved ones waiting for them back home. These individuals, who perform mandatory military service without professional law enforcement training, have been considered a distinct element apart from the professionally serving Police and Gendarmerie forces. For this reason, the thesis is titled "Law Enforcement and Military Service in the Folk Songs of the TRT THM Repertoire." The thesis consists of an introduction and two main sections. The "Introduction" section comprises three subsections: "Subject, Purpose, and Scope of the Research," "Research Method," and "Basic Concepts." Under the "Basic Concepts" heading, the concepts of folk songs, the TRT THM Repertoire, the concept of law enforcement, and types of law enforcement are explained. The first section, titled "Terms Related to Law Enforcement and Military Service in the Folk Songs of the TRT THM Repertoire," provides information on twenty-five terms identified in the folk songs of the TRT THM Repertoire, listed in alphabetical order. Each term is first explained, followed by an analysis of how it appears in the folk songs, supported by example texts. The second section, titled "Content of Folk Songs Containing Terms Related to Law Enforcement and Military Service," examines the content of the folk songs in the TRT THM Repertoire that include terms related to law enforcement and military service. These are classified under fourteen headings and analyzed with reference to example texts. The study concludes with the sections "Conclusion," "Bibliography," "Glossary," and "Sequential List of Folk Songs in the TRT THM Repertoire." Under the "Glossary" heading, the words used in the folk songs and their meanings are provided. The explanations of certain words found in the folk song texts of the TRT THM Repertoire are preserved as they appear and included in the "Glossary" section of the study. The "Sequential List of Folk Songs in the TRT THM Repertoire" section provides a list of the folk songs scanned in the TRT THM Repertoire, ordered according to their repertoire numbers. In the conclusion section, an evaluation is made based on the findings obtained throughout the study. As a result of this evaluation, it has been determined that, with the exception of one folk song, all the folk songs registered in the TRT THM Repertoire contain positive metaphors and praises for members of law enforcement and those performing military service, with expressions of admiration being used.