The verbs qod- and qud- in Old Turkic: A phonetic and etymological analysis

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 146 - 163, 26.02.2025

Erdem Uçar , Marek Stachowski

https://doi.org/10.35236/jots.1508655

Abstract

The article examines the phonetic and etymological aspects of the Old Turkic verbs qod- and qud- to determine whether they represent two distinct lexical items or phonetic variations of a single verb root. By analysing Old Turkic inscriptions in different writing systems, including Turkic Runic, Brāhmī, Manichaean and Uighur scripts, the research explores how the vowel change o ~ u is recorded in historical sources. It takes a comparative approach, examining how these forms appear in different Turkic languages and loanwords in neighbouring languages such as Yeniseian and Slavic. The study also assesses the impact of phonological constraints and orthographic conventions on the transcription of these words. The results suggest that qod- and qud- were historically intertwined, and probably derived from a single root meaning ‘to lower something’ or ‘to move something downward’. Over time, phonetic shifts and dialectal differentiation led to distinct forms that influenced later developments in Turkic languages. The article contributes to the broader discussion of vowel shifts and phonological variation in historical Turkic linguistics.

Keywords

Old Turkic, qod-, qud-, vowel alternation o ~ u

Eski Türkçede qod- ve qud- Fiilleri: Fonetik ve Etimolojik Bir Değerlendirme

Abstract

The article examines the phonetic and etymological aspects of the Old Turkic verbs qod- and qud- to determine whether they represent two distinct lexical items or phonetic variations of a single verb root. By analysing Old Turkic inscriptions in different writing systems, including Turkic Runic, Brāhmī, Manichaean and Uighur scripts, the research explores how the vowel change o ~ u is recorded in historical sources. It takes a comparative approach, examining how these forms appear in different Turkic languages and loanwords in neighbouring languages such as Yeniseian and Slavic. The study also assesses the impact of phonological constraints and orthographic conventions on the transcription of these words. The results suggest that qod- and qud- were historically intertwined, and probably derived from a single root meaning ‘to lower something’ or ‘to move something downward’. Over time, phonetic shifts and dialectal differentiation led to distinct forms that influenced later developments in Turkic languages. The article contributes to the broader discussion of vowel shifts and phonological variation in historical Turkic linguistics.

Keywords

Old Turkic, qod-, qud-, vowel alternation o ~ u

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