Research Article

Using Social Media for Preliminary Vocabulary Investigations in Endangered Turkic Languages: Experiments with Gagauz

Volume: 14 Number: 24-25 December 5, 2024
TR EN

Using Social Media for Preliminary Vocabulary Investigations in Endangered Turkic Languages: Experiments with Gagauz

Abstract

The Gagauz language is considered to be one of the endangered Turkic languages. Indeed, UNESCO’s Languages Atlas lists it as “definitely endangered.” And yet its situation remains ambiguous. On the one hand, the number of speakers appears to be decreasing; on the other hand, we see efforts not only to preserve the folkloric tradition, but also to use it in areas such as journalism and significant new artistic productions. There is no simple answer, then, to the question whether it is flourishing or whether it is increasingly endangered because both are happening at the same time. Only time will tell which prevails. This article examines how social media, primarily Facebook, can be used in preliminary or tentative vocabulary investigation to supplement the lack of adequate dictionaries. We will describe exercises in crowd-sourcing vocabulary for the purpose of translating texts into the Gagauz language and original writing in the language, both fiction and non-fiction. In some cases our crowd-sourcing experiments resulted in verifying vocabulary items already in use; in other cases, they yielded new terms for things from modern life which apparently had not yet had any name at all in common use in the language. Since the methodologies used do not conform to scientific standards for lexicographic / lexicological investigations, though, we weigh the pros and cons of the experiments in the hope that this account may provide a starting point for researchers into other endangered Turkic languages to build on them while exercising due caution.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Linguistic Performance Science

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 5, 2024

Submission Date

January 18, 2024

Acceptance Date

August 6, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2024 Volume: 14 Number: 24-25

APA
Shartz, C. (2024). Using Social Media for Preliminary Vocabulary Investigations in Endangered Turkic Languages: Experiments with Gagauz. Tehlikedeki Diller Dergisi, 14(24-25), 63-74. https://izlik.org/JA36AN42BD
AMA
1.Shartz C. Using Social Media for Preliminary Vocabulary Investigations in Endangered Turkic Languages: Experiments with Gagauz. JofEL. 2024;14(24-25):63-74. https://izlik.org/JA36AN42BD
Chicago
Shartz, Cosmas. 2024. “Using Social Media for Preliminary Vocabulary Investigations in Endangered Turkic Languages: Experiments With Gagauz”. Tehlikedeki Diller Dergisi 14 (24-25): 63-74. https://izlik.org/JA36AN42BD.
EndNote
Shartz C (December 1, 2024) Using Social Media for Preliminary Vocabulary Investigations in Endangered Turkic Languages: Experiments with Gagauz. Tehlikedeki Diller Dergisi 14 24-25 63–74.
IEEE
[1]C. Shartz, “Using Social Media for Preliminary Vocabulary Investigations in Endangered Turkic Languages: Experiments with Gagauz”, JofEL, vol. 14, no. 24-25, pp. 63–74, Dec. 2024, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA36AN42BD
ISNAD
Shartz, Cosmas. “Using Social Media for Preliminary Vocabulary Investigations in Endangered Turkic Languages: Experiments With Gagauz”. Tehlikedeki Diller Dergisi 14/24-25 (December 1, 2024): 63-74. https://izlik.org/JA36AN42BD.
JAMA
1.Shartz C. Using Social Media for Preliminary Vocabulary Investigations in Endangered Turkic Languages: Experiments with Gagauz. JofEL. 2024;14:63–74.
MLA
Shartz, Cosmas. “Using Social Media for Preliminary Vocabulary Investigations in Endangered Turkic Languages: Experiments With Gagauz”. Tehlikedeki Diller Dergisi, vol. 14, no. 24-25, Dec. 2024, pp. 63-74, https://izlik.org/JA36AN42BD.
Vancouver
1.Cosmas Shartz. Using Social Media for Preliminary Vocabulary Investigations in Endangered Turkic Languages: Experiments with Gagauz. JofEL [Internet]. 2024 Dec. 1;14(24-25):63-74. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA36AN42BD