The Historical Continuity and Semantic Field of Home in Turkish

Abstract

This study aims to examine the formal, semantic, and conceptual development of the word ev (“home/house”) across the historical periods of Turkish. It focuses on both the phonetic and semantic changes the word has undergone, drawing on data from Köktürk (Old Turkic), Old Uyghur, Karakhanid, Khwarezm–Kipchak, Old Anatolian, and Chagatai Turkish, as well as from contemporary Turkic languages. These changes are analyzed through a combination of diachronic and synchronic approaches. As the Turkish language has undergone various phonetic developments over time, the word ev has likewise been subject to a range of transformations. Its evolution follows a trajectory that is largely consistent with broader patterns of historical sound change in Turkish. The main objective of this study is to demonstrate that the concept of ev in Turkish has not been limited to a physical space of habitation, but has gradually developed into a cultural, social, and metaphorical construct. In this respect, the study seeks to identify the processes of semantic expansion and change by examining the usage of ev in historical texts. It also explores how the concept has acquired new layers of meaning in relation to cultural symbolism, particularly in connection with the transition to settled life, family structures, social roles, and emotional belonging. The findings are expected to shed light on the historical foundations of spatiality and belonging in Turkish and to contribute to a better understanding of the cognitive framework of Turkish culture within the perspective of Conceptual Metaphor Theory. Ultimately, the study aims to highlight the continuity of the Turkish language, its cultural memory, and the deeper structure of its lexical system.