Humor dictionary of Turkish language

The main objective of this study is to explore how various forms, elements, and theories of humor have evolved in the Turkic language and dialects from the past to the present, and to identify the different semantic shifts humor has undergone in the history of the Turkic language, thus showcasing the richness of the Turkic language. Within the scope of the study, four periods were examined: Turkic language and dialects, Old Turkic, Middle Turkic, New Turkic, and Contemporary Turkic Dialects. Works and dictionaries belonging to each period were analyzed, and humorous words were collected. After scanning the examined dictionaries and texts for words with humorous connotations, these words were compiled in dictionary form. Subsequently, these words were analyzed, and their semantic aspects were explained. The result of the study reveals that humor existing in Turkic oral and written literature has been present since the time of the Köktürks, and that humor emerged in an ancient written language. Over time, humor has evolved according to different periods, showcasing that Turks place importance on laughter. They have developed humorous works and have employed humor in various realms, spaces, and narrative forms such as vocabulary, poetry, stories, magazines, and more.