A Comparative Study of Locative Suffixes in Persian and Azari Turkish: Cognitive Morphology Approach

The purpose of the present paper is to examine the suffixes that form place names in Azerbaijani Turkish from the perspective of Cognitive Morphology. To this end, we examine and compare the corresponding suffixes in Persian and Azerbaijani Turkish with regard to the concepts of category, domain, and construal. The data for this study were obtained from the Persian–Turkish Dictionary by Shahmersi (1388). According to Cognitive Morphology, each suffix carries a particular meaning and contributes to the conceptualization of the word in which it occurs. By comparing place nouns in Persian and Azerbaijani Turkish, we found that Azerbaijani Turkish contains several suffixes that are used to construe and designate places. However, the comparison also reveals that some nouns expressed through suffixation in Persian are expressed as simple nouns in Azerbaijani Turkish, and vice versa. These cases will be discussed in the analysis section with relevant examples. Another finding is that certain suffixes occur more frequently than others and may convey different meanings depending on the context in which they are used.
Introduction
In this study, an attempt is made to determine, whether the locative suffixes in Persian have equivalents with the same meaning in Azari Turkish or not, based on cognitive approach. The authors, using a descriptive-analytical method, have examined examples of place names in Turkish and their equivalents in Persian. The theoretical framework of this research is based on the cognitive concepts according to Hamavand (2008), such as the theory of categorization, domainization, and conceptualization. In fact, the purpose of this research is to compare the locative suffixes in Azeri Turkish with the aforementioned suffixes in Persian to determine whether equivalents of Persian locative suffixes can be found in Azeri Turkish. In other words, the goal is to compare Persian and Turkish locative suffixes. In this study, the meanings of each of the locative suffixes in Azeri Turkish have been examined based on the criteria proposed in the cognitive approach. The present study is important in two ways: First, by comparing the two languages ​​Persian and Azeri Turkish from one aspect, namely examining locative suffixes, we can understand the differences and similarities of the aforementioned languages ​​in representing the concept of place; In this case, a description of the Turkish language can be presented in comparison with the Persian language and the descriptive goal can be achieved. Second, from a theoretical point of view, studying languages ​​based on a cognitive approach can reveal what goes on in the minds of speakers of those languages, including patterns related to conceptualization; By comparing the locative suffixes in Persian and Turkish, we can to some extent understand the cognitive differences and similarities between Turkish and Persian speakers in representing and creating the concept of place. From an applied perspective, the results of this research are also important. Comparing two languages ​​and identifying their differences and similarities can be effective in language teaching; for example, if a Turkish-speaking learner wants to learn Persian, the teaching can be facilitated by relying on the similarity between the locative suffixes in Turkish and Persian. Because learning a language based on its similarity to the mother tongue makes learning easier. On the other hand, differences between two languages ​​can create challenges for language learners; therefore, a teacher, knowing these challenges and differences between languages, can provide an appropriate lesson plan.
In writing language teaching books, one can also start by teaching the similarities between the language being taught and the learners' native language, in order to create motivation and excitement in the language learner from a cognitive perspective and to make them interested in learning the language. Bozorgmehr (2015) believes that among young people and adolescents, talent along with enthusiasm and motivation are two important indicators for learning a second language.
Method
This research examines and compares place suffixes in Azeri Turkish and Persian using a lexical and descriptive-inferential approach. Nouns derived from Turkish place suffixes that were equivalent to Persian place suffixes were extracted using Shahmorsi and Ershadifar dictionaries. The meaning of each word in the two languages ​​was examined and compared and classified based on semantic concepts. 175 place names in Turkish were collected from the Dictionary of Turkish Vocabulary in Persian Language and Literature (Irshadifar, 2000) and the Persian-Turkish Dictionary of Shahmorsi (Zare Shahmorsi, 2009). The meaning of each case was examined in the dictionaries of Amid and Dehkhoda.
Results
Based on the concepts of categorization, conceptualization, and domainization, it was concluded that in Turkish there are locative suffixes equivalent to locative suffixes in Persian. Of course, there are differences and similarities between these two languages, which we will mention in this section. In both languages, the concept of location and smallness is conveyed by symbols, which in Turkish include “-liq, -mɑ:dʒ, -dʒik, -ʈʃɑ: and –gah” And in Persian include “-kæde”. As a result, the Azeri Turkish language has a larger number of symbols to represent the concept of smallness of space. Also, it seems that the concept of place and the concept of plurality in Turkish are interpreted as a place covered by something.
According to Karbalai Sadeq and Gulfam (2016), this concept is objectified in Persian with the suffix “zɑ:r”; while in Azeri Turkish, this concept is represented with the suffixes "-lɑ:n and -lɑ:q". In Turkish, place names that are the place where a process takes place are represented by the suffixes "-liq, -lik, -qɑ:, -ɑ:q, -mɑ:, -jɑ:r, -lɑ:q and -dʒɑ:q"; While in Persian, the suffix "-gɑ:h" conveys this concept.
According to the examples mentioned, the number of locative suffixes that convey existing concepts in Persian are more diverse in Azeri Turkish. Many concepts that are conveyed in Persian through compound nouns are conveyed in Azeri Turkish through the addition of locative suffixes.
Ethical Considerations
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Funding
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Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest