The novel Anahtar, part of Mustafa Necati Sepetçioğlu’s series known as the “Selçuklu Trilogy” explores a specific period of Turkish history and the social consciousness of that era. The work features a distinctive lexicon enriched with archaic elements derived from various dialectal materials. This use of dialect is a crucial structural component in constructing the novel as a historical narrative. Dialect, defined as regional speech forms of a standardized language, is often used in literary works addressing historical themes. It conveys the emotions and thoughts of real or presumed historical figures realistically, avoiding artificiality and enhancing authenticity. This study examines the dialect-specific lexicon in the novel based on the Derleme Sözlüğü, analyzing its geographical distribution, meanings, and distinctive features. Undocumented words were clarified using informants, contributing to the Derleme Sözlüğü. The study underscores the functional role of dialects in literary construction and the structural strength of the Turkish language.
Mustafa Necati Sepetçioğlu, Anahtar, linguistics, dialect, vocabulary.