An examination of the vocabulary in Necati Cumalı's short story collection titled Susuz Yaz

Language is the primary means of communication that reflects a society's cultural identity, mentality, and lifestyle. The primary factor determining the richness of a language is its vocabulary. Vocabulary is an indicator that transmits a nation's material and spiritual values, historical heritage, and cultural characteristics to future generations. In this context, literary works, beyond being mere aesthetic means of expression, are fundamental sources that reveal the expressive power and diversity of language. In this study, Necati Cumalı's work "Susuz Yaz" was analyzed in terms of vocabulary. The primary objective of the study was to identify the vocabulary elements (slang, local words, formulaic expressions, terms, reduplications, proverbs, words of foreign origin, and idioms) contained in the work and to reveal their contribution to the work's language and narrative. The study employed literature review and content analysis methods. Accordingly, the work was subjected to a detailed analysis. The vocabulary elements in the text were identified; These elements were classified and evaluated in terms of their meaning, function, and usage using various works, primarily those of the Turkish Language Association (TDK). The study consists of five sections. The first section explains the research problem, purpose, importance, method, scope, and limitations. The second section includes a literature review to identify the vocabulary elements in the work. The third section includes the author's life, literary personality, and a summary of the eleven stories in "Susuz Yaz." The fourth section includes the research findings and their discussions, while the fifth section includes conclusions and recommendations. The study concluded that "Susuz Yaz" is a work rich in vocabulary. It was determined that idioms, reduplications, slang, and local words are used in harmony with the characters' language and the work's social fabric. The findings demonstrate that Necati Cumalı uses Turkish naturally, effectively, and consciously, integrating local cultural elements with the language's capabilities. In this respect, this study aims to contribute to research on Turkish vocabulary and the linguistic analysis of literary texts.