Discourse of humor in Lehcetü'l Hakayık

Âlû Bey (1846-1899), who was known by the name of ?Director? during hislifetime, is a writer of humor who published several journalistic articles, plays,adaptations, a short story, and travel notes. With his works during the Tanzimatperiod, Âlû Bey is a pioneer of novelty in the changing understanding of humor.In this study, the discourse of humor represented by Âlû Bey?s dictionarytitled Lehcetü?l Hakâyık (The Language of Truth) is investigated in two mainsections under the titles of ?The Structure and Content of the Discourse of Humor?and ?The Analysis of the Discourse of Humor?. The first section contains thesubsections in which ?Dictionary Studies and the Understanding of Humor Prior toLehcetü?l Hakâyık? and ?Features of the Text? are investigated. The first section ofthe thesis discusses the place of this dictionary within the traditions of humor anddictionary writing in Ottoman literature, analyzes Âlû Bey?s dictionary in terms ofthese genres, and exposes in depth the content of dictionary.The second section of the thesis, which is titled ?The Analysis of theDiscourse of Humor? contains the following subsections: ?The Unique Aspects ofBeing Human and Human Behavior?, ?Relationships between Women and Men?,?Political and Social Discourse about the Ottoman Empire?, and ?Other Entries?.Under the title of ?The Unique Aspects of Being Human and Human Behavior?entries relating to verbal, mental, and bodily aspects of being human are explicated.Under the title of ?Relationships between Women and Men? the entries relating towomen and men are discussed. Under the title of ?Political and Social Discourseabout the Ottoman Empire? issues relating to political and social life are examined.?Other Entries? discusses those subjects that are not considered under previousclassifications.In Lehcetü?l Hakâyık, Âlû Bey satirically responds to those subjects thatreflect human thought and behavior, relationship between women and men, the dailyand political life of the Ottoman Empire, and the cultural background of his period.Considering humor as a critical weapon, he cleverly redefines the platitudes, thusshowing the ?irony of truth?.key words: irony, humor, dictionary, satire