A language study on Oglanlar by Abdilla Islamow

Like the other Turkish tribes, vagabond Turkmens have Oghuz origins. When most of the Oghuzs accepted Islam in the tenth century they called the non-Muslim Oghuzs 'Turkmen'. Turkmen Turkish forms the Eastern branch of Turkic dialects and it is the official written language of Turkmenistan Republic. Apart from Turkmenistan there are Turkmen Turkish speaking communities in Uzbekistan, Karakalpakkistan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Tajikistanand and in the Staropol Region of Russian Federation. Turkmen Turkish is the dialect which best preserves the characteristics of Oghuz Turkish and it still has the features of Kıpchak and Cagatay Turkish. It was also influenced by Eastern Turkish. The most distinctive feature of turkmen Turkish is that it still preserves the original lengths. The text that forms the basis of this study is a story book named 'Oglanlar' by a Turkmen writer Abdılla Islamow which was published by Magarif Publishing House in 1985. There are twelve Turkmen stories written in Turkmen Cyrillic alphabet in this 72-page book. This work has been translated into Turkey Turkish, its linguistic features have been examined both phonologically and structurally and its vocabulary has been revealed by preparing its grammatical index. It is thought that this study will contribute to Turkology, especially Turkmen Turkish studies.