Censorship typology in Turkish

Language is the most powerful means of communication that characterises the cultural, moral and traditional codes of social structure. Discourses shaped by the values and norms of society sometimes encounter content that is unacceptable, considered deviant or deemed objectionable. At this point, censorship comes into play as a control mechanism that defines the boundaries of communication. Censorship is functional not only through institutional and legal authorities but also through self-censorship practices developed by individuals over their own expressions. Taboos, in particular, directly influence individuals' language choices as society's oldest unwritten moral rules. Expressions that carry taboo connotations are suppressed or transformed into implicit forms. In this process, strategies such as euphemism and indirect expression come into play. Slang expressions, representing the fringe language of society, constitute one of the most intense areas of application for censorship and self-censorship. Censorship causes changes not only in content but also in the structure of language. These transformations, which occur at the levels of sound, form, syntax and meaning, are noticeable in the surface structure, but the meaning in the deep structure is generally preserved. Therefore, censorship can be addressed as an area of linguistic study in the context of typology and classification. Structural forms of censorship, applied through methods such as omission, alteration, implication, indirect expression, or abbreviation, highlight the flexibility and productive power of language. At the same time, the visibility of censorship and self-censorship in language offers an important field of research for understanding social dynamics, cultural codes, and expression practices shaped by individual preferences. This study evaluates the relationship between censorship, self-censorship, taboo, euphemism, and slang through linguistic strategies, examines the functions of structural changes from a typological perspective, and investigates the productive and restrictive dimensions of censorship in language within a holistic framework.