Classification of proverbs and their structrural features

Stereotyped apothegms and adages which are anonymous, have social cultural overtones, contain eruditely thoughts and philosophical aphorisms based on longstanding observations and experiences, and are considered as a general rule are defined as proverbs. In substitution for proverb, different terms such as motto (sav), maxim (darbu?l-mesel) and ancestral words (atalar sözü) are used. The first written samples of proverbs were found in the Orkhon inscriptions. There are also the samples of proverbs in other opuses of the Old Turkish and Uighur periods. The first book of compiled proverbs is D?w?n ul-Lu?at al-Turk (Compendium of the languages of the Turks) written by Mahmud al-Kashgari in the Karakhanid era. Proverb examples are also found in Qutadgu Bilig and Atabet ul-Haqaaiq written in the time of Karakhanids. In the Ottoman period, poets of both classic and folk literature used proverbs.When proverbs are studied in terms of their structural usage patterns, word groups and sentence types, it is seen that they include eminently rich and original examples. Usage of patterns in proverbs is classified in three chapters which consist of introduction patterns, patterns including proverb and closure patterns. Proverbs are kept in mind easily because of their vivace phraseology. What makes proverbs acquire this characteristics is the fluent syntax of Turkish. In order to determine this rich syntax, Turkish proverbs are studied according to their sentence patterns, types and places of verbs, meaning and fixing of sentences.In this study, usage patterns in proverbs are determined, word groups and sentence types are handled, and their structural features are put forth.