The Effect of Migration upon Lexical Aspects of the Movers’ Mother Tongues: The Example of Pomak in Turkey
The Effect of Migration upon Lexical Aspects of the Movers’ Mother Tongues: The Example of Pomak in Turkey

Author(s): Uğur Altıntaş, Hasan Boynukara
Subject(s): Geography, Regional studies, Lexis, Sociolinguistics, Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Evaluation research, Migration Studies
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: migration; mothers tongue; native language; lexis; effects; Turkey; Pomak;
Summary/Abstract: After their migration throughout the decade of 1920s, Pomak people underwent numerous cultural changes, especially in their languages. Being an endangered minority language, Pomak is a Slavic language which demonstrates a reciprocal effect with Turkish language in western parts of Turkey. Upon considering the current danger that Pomak is facing extinction, it would be beneficial to analyze the lexical and morphological differences in the Pomak language amongst the areas where Pomak minorities live. So as to gain necessary data three villages -Tayfur, Çanakkale; Toybelen, Balıkesir; Armağan, Kırklareli - in the Northwestern part of Turkey have been visited and Pomak people are firstly asked to translate fifty basic sentences, and later they are interviewed about the current status of Pomak in the area. Obtained translations have been recorded, and their morphological and vocal similarities and differences have been identified and analyzed. Collecting the data, the effect of Turkish on Pomak is analyzed from a perspective of language ecology. This study is intended to supply linguistic information on Pomak and to help create ways to avoid an undesired extinction of such a colorful language.

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