American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research
158
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VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue05 2025
PAGE NO.
158-161
10.37547/ajsshr/Volume05Issue05-39
Analysis of Some Polysemantic Lexemes in The Work
"Devonu Lug
ʻ
otit Turk"
Ahmadjonova Maftuna Alijon qizi
Tashkent State University of Uzbek Language and Literature named after Alisher Navoi, 2nd year basic doctoral student, Uzbekistan
Received:
28 March 2025;
Accepted:
24 April 2025;
Published:
26 May 2025
Abstract:
"DEVONU LUGʻOTIT
-TURK" (often called "Devon-i Lugat-it-Turk") is a Turkish dictionary written in the
11th century, compiled by Mahmud al-Qashghari. It is of great importance in the study of the lexical richness of
Turkic languages, providing valuable information about polysemous words and their use in different contexts. The
article discusses the method of explaining polysemous words in the work "Devonu lugatit turk". Although this
dictionary is the most important work of 11th-century lexicography, it is a very important source from this point
of view, showing the historical development of Turkic languages.
Keywords:
Polysemantic words, primary meaning, secondary meaning, homonyms, dictionary, lexicology,
lexicography.
Introduction:
The enrichment of words with new
meanings is a legal process. In the lexicon, processes
such as the change in the meaning of each lexeme, its
use in a new sense, its withdrawal from use, its
passivation and activation are observed. From this
point of view, the examination of the meaning of words
on the basis of historicity is especially important in
revealing the laws of the emergence of new words [1.].
The word is historically developed in connection with
the development of society. The subtleties of the
meaning of the new lexeme occupy a strong place in
the language, in the living language of the people. Each
lexical unit can mean concepts that are close to each
other or separate in their place. The meanings of words
and subtleties of meaning are distinguished by their
individuality, such as primary and secondary meanings.
One of the meanings of words is distinguished
individually, and the other cases are distinguished by
the aspects of the formation of secondary meanings by
people. In fact, the study of the expansion and
development laws of the meaning of words greatly
helps to determine the homonymous, synonymous,
paronymic, antonymic and polysemous properties of
words, to observe the vocabulary richness of the
language, and to compile various dictionaries [2.].
Cases of two or more meanings that are similar in form
occurring in the same form can be seen in the text [3.].
In the system of lexical units explained in "Devon", it is
noted that there are words with one, two, three and six
meanings. Lexicographers who lived in the post-
Kashgari period, such as Tole Imani Hiravi, Mahdiykhan,
Nasiriy, used various methods in explaining words in
the language of classical works [4.].
Mahmud Kashgari, as an educated and knowledgeable
intellectual of his time, was the first to reveal the
meanings of words, revealing the traditions of Eastern
lexicography. He tried to record all the meanings of
each lexical unit. The dictionary contains many words,
from single-meaning lexemes to six-meaning words.
During the research, we analyzed single-meaning and
polysemantic words separately. As a result, it was
found that such words exist in all three parts of
“Devonu lugʻatit
-
turk” [7.]. Mahmud Kashgari tried to
record other meanings of words in the dictionary, in
addition to the original meaning. Below we will
consider polysemantic lexical units.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Polysemantic words in which the name of one object
is transferred to another based on formal similarity:
Ükäk 1. Chest; 2. Coffin (10. DLT, 44). A chest and a
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American Journal Of Social Sciences And Humanity Research (ISSN: 2771-2141)
coffin are similar in shape, both being rectangular.
A:ğ 1. The space between two thighs, a cleft, a gap; yüz
at mening ağdïn
kečti
- A hundred horses passed under
my feet; 2. This also applies to the space between the
toes (10. DLT, 45). The space between the toes and the
space between the two thighs are also triangular in
shape There is a similarity in shape between them.
Owruğ
1. 1. This word is also called oğruğ 1. The joint
of bones; 2. The end of a mountain slope; 3. The place
where the spine joins the neck (10. DLT, 60). Just as the
parts of the bone are divided into sections and are
located separately, the slopes of the mountain are also
located like joints.
Paldir 1. A protruding object resembling the tip of a
mountain; 2. Togʻ paldiri
- mountain peak (10. DLT,
181).
Qapïrčaq 1. A coffin; 2. But this word is often used to
refer to the coffin of a dead person (DLT, 198). The
word ukak and the word qapïrčaq mentioned above are
synonymous.
Tïš 1. Tooth is the tooth of a person and others; 2. Plow
tooth (10. DLT, 366). A person's tooth and a plow tooth
are similar in shape.
The fact that ancient Turkic peoples were characterized
by such crafts as animal husbandry, farming, and fishing
prompted them to name objects and phenomena
related to these areas based on metaphorical transfer.
Since some such metaphors have now lost their
significance, the polysemantic words used in "Devon"
provide an opportunity to understand the environment
of that time more deeply and to study the
linguocultural characteristics characteristic of Turkic
peoples [11.].
Boyïn 1. The neck of humans and animals; 2. On the hilt
of a sword qïlïč boynï is called; to the knife handle bičäk
boynï is called (10. DLT, 381).
Qïsmaq 1. Two straps on either side of the stirrup. The
stirrup rests between the two straps; 2. To slide, to trap
(10. DLT, 188).
Polysemantic words in which the name of one object
is transferred based on the similarity in its location to
another:
Uč 1. The tip of the thing. Butaq uči
- the tip of a branch,
the tip of a branch; 2. Uč el
- border, region within the
borders of a country, a country; 3. Completion, end of
something. Bayda nä uč bar, Th
ey say. The meaning is:
"The people (in the nation) are so numerous that there
is no end to them." (10. DLT,33-bet). The end of an
object, the place of completion, is called the end, and
the three words are also used to refer to the end of a
province. In all three senses, the sign of the place of
completion is similar.
Örtüg 1. A veil, a covering; for example, a saddle veil
(cover); 2. The silken cloth that is draped over the
graves of great men, and anything else that is covered,
is also called this (10. DLT, 54). Both the veil over the
saddle and the veil over the grave serve as a covering.
Yoğač 1. The other bank of a stream or river; 2. For
example, when a person stands in one place, there is a
tree in front of him; yoğač kečtim
- I crossed from this
side of the river to that side, it means (10. DLT, 326).
Formation of polysemantic words based on similarity
of action and state:
Učdi 1. Flew, the bird flew.; 2. Anïn qutï učdi
- his
fortune, happiness, and wealth were gone.; 3. Er atdan
qudi učdi
- A man fell from a horse. (10. DLT, 80).
Očdï 1. Ot očdï
- fire, the fire went out; 2. Erning öpkäsi
očdï
- The person's anger has died down (DLT, 80). The
analogy of the flight of a person's happiness to the
flight of a bird, and the extinction of anger to the
extinction of fire, serves not only to be economical, but
also to make speech more effective.
The use of words in a figurative sense is an important
feature that has become a rule in the vernacular since
ancient times. The use of words in a figurative sense is
an important tool that contributes greatly to lexical
richness, fluency of language, expressiveness, and the
creation of an impressive, pleasant expression
[12.].Esdi 1. Remembered. Esin esdi- A gentle wind
blew; 2. It blew, tarïğ esdi
- He blew away the wheat and
other things; 3. The same word is used for the wind to
stir up the soil. This verb is both transitive and
intransitive (10. DLT,81).
Uldï 1. Et pïsïp uldï-
The meat is cooked until it’s soft
and juicy; 2. The same word is also used for a garment
that has become worn out and rotten. (10. DLT, 81).
Emdi 1. Gänč anasïn emdi –
the child sucked its
mother; 2. The same word is also used for the sucking
of animals (10. DLT, 82).
Ündi 1. Ot ündi - fire, bruise; 2. Ol ewkä ündi- he went
home (10. DLT,82).
Attï 1. Er oq attï- the person shot arrows and other
objects; 2. Tang attï- The dawn broke, it was light; 3. Ol
attï nängni atti - he threw something, threw it (10. DLT,
82).
A:ğdï 1. It came out, it rose; Ol tağqa a:ğdi
- he climbed
the mountain and other hills; 2. Bulït a:ğdï
- a cloud
emerged, appeared (10. DLT, 83).
Öčürdi 1. Deleted. Ol
otuğ öčürdi
- he put out the fire;
2. Anïng öpkäsin öčürdï
- eased his anger; 3. Ol anï urup,
tïnï öčürdi
- he hit him, took his breath away, his voice
away. (10. DLT, 84).
Egirdi 1. Wrapped, surrounded. Beg kend egirdi- The
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prince surrounded the city; 2.
Urağut yïp egirdi
- The
woman spun yarn; 3. Suw kemini egirdi- the water
turned the ship (10. DLT, 85).
Adïšdï 1. They parted. Er adaqi adïšdï
- a person's two
legs were stretched out; 2. This word is used for
anything that is separated from each other. (10. DLT,
86).
Ašuqtï 1. He was in a hurry, bustly. Ol ewkä ašuqti
- he
hurried home or somewhere else; 2. The same word is
also used for a person who is thirsty and eager for
everything. (10. DLT,89).
Odundï 1. Ot odundï- the fire died down and died
down. Yula odundï- the lights and everything went off.
(10. DLT,92).
Ilindi 1. Er yağïqa ilindi
- a person was captured by the
enemy; 2. Keyik tuzaqqa ilindi- The deer was caught in
a trap (10. DLT,93).
Ačïttï 1. Bitter
-
ol sirkä ačïttï
- he fermented vinegar and
other things. 2. Ol anïn könlin ačïttï
- he hurts her heart
with a painful situation, he makes her bitter. (10.
DLT,94).
Aqïttï 1. Tänri aqïn aqïttï- God poured out a torrential
flood; Ol suv aqïttï-
he spilled water; 2. Beg aqïnčï
aqïttï- the beg sent an armed force against the enemy.
(10. DLT,96).
Emitti 1. Tam emitti- walls and other things are crooked
and falling down;
2. Könlüm anar emitti- my heart is drawn to him (10.
DLT,96).
Itlindi 1. Itqitildi taš itlindi
- stones and other objects
were pushed, thrown.
This word is also used when a child starts to crawl; 2.
From this, it is used in the sense of "get away from me,
get away from me." This is used when angry, when
annoyed (10. DLT,109).
Erildi 1. Tam erildi- The wall and other things cracked,
the top part was shining; 2. Similarly, the full moon
gradually decreases as the month ends ay erildi is called
(10. DLT, 114).
Ağrudï 1. It was hard.. Ağrudi näƞ
- something became
heavy, became heavier; 2. Iglig ağrudï
- the patient
became sicker and worse(10. DLT, 115).
Ögridi 1. Vibrated, urağut bešik ögridi
- the woman
rocked the cradle; 2. This word is also used to refer to
flattering others with deceit: it is said that she rocked
him, meaning that she rocked him like a young child
(10. DLT, 115).
Ağnadï 1. Agnadi. At ağnadï
- the horse will graze on the
ground and on something else; 2. Er ağnadï
- someone
was caught talking (10. DLT, 120).
Adaqlandï 1. Adaqlandï näƞ
- the thing became legged,
it sprouted legs; 2. In the proverb: Alïm keč qalsa,
adaqlanur. Meaning: If the thing borrowed is left with
the debtor for a long time, it is called a pawn. That is,
the lender follows him to collect the debt (10. DLT,122).
Bögdi 1. He collected and gathered. Ol suwuğ bögdi
- he
dammed up the water, collected it. 2. Also beg süsin
bögdi- the prince gathered the soldiers. Know that a
large number of soldiers is always likened to water; for
example, when water flows, suw aqtï it is said. If a
soldier is agitated,sü aqtï it is said(10. DLT, 214).
Sïndï 1. Cindy. yïğač
sïndï- the wood broke; 2. Sü sïndï-
the soldier was defeated (10. DLT,217).
Tuğurdï 1. She gave birth. Urağut oğul tuğurdï
- The wife
gave birth to a son; 2. This word is used metaphorically
when animals give birth. (10. DLT, 231).
Berišdi 1. They gave it. Olar bir
-
birkä qïz berišdi
- they
gave each other a daughter; 2. The same word is also
used when two people give each other something. (10.
DLT,235).
Tïtïldï 1. Titled. Et pïsïp tïtïldï- The meat boiled and
cooked, and it was tender; 2. The same word is also
used for clothes that are worn out and the seams come
out. (10. DLT, 244).
Bošandï 1. Qoy bošandï
- the sheep was released from
its head, from its peg; 2. The sheep was released with a
thud; 3. Tügün bošandï
- the knot was untied, untied; 4.
It was released, it was divorced. Urağut bošandi
- Wife
divorced (10. DLT, 250).
Basturd
ï 1. Suppressed. Beg oğrïnï bosturdï
-the master
made the thief lie down by pressing his hands and feet;
2. This word is also used to prevent anything from being
lifted up (10. DLT,259).
Qondurdï 1. He landed. Ol ewindä quš qondirdï
- he
landed a bird in his house; 2. Ol altun uza cesh
qondurdi- He set a turquoise stone on the gold, he set
it, he set a turquoise stone. The same word is used to
set something on top of anything. (10. DLT,265).
Kekčürdi 1.Loved it. Er pičäk kekčürdi The man rubbed
the knife a
gainst the other; 2. Ol ikki er kekčürdi
- it
turns two people into each other (10. DLT, 266).
Köƞärdi 1. It will be corrected. Ol oq köƞärdi
- he
straightens arrows and other things; 2. He straightens
the road. Ol yoʻl köƞärd
- he showed the way, set the
path (10. DLT, 267).
Yudï 1. Washed. Er ton yudï- a person washed clothes
and other things; 2. In the proverb: Qanïğ qan bilä
yumas- Meaning: "Blood cannot be washed away with
blood" meaning it was not suppressed by violence, it
was suppressed by agreement (10. DLT,346).
Yaradï 1. It worked, it fit. Ol nän anar yaradï- that thing
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suits him, suits his day; 2. The same word is also used
for anything that is suitable or appropriate. (10. DLT,
353) .
Qoqdï 1. To sink - suw qoqdï- The water turbidity
su
bsided and subsided. 2. Sïš qoqdï
- the swelling has
subsided, it has healed (10. DLT, 387).
Qondï 1. It landed, settled on something, quš qondï
-
settled on something; 2. Bodun qondï- the tribe landed
after moving (to a place) (10. DLT, 387).
Sïdï 1. Broke Ol otun sïdï- he broke wood and other
things; 2. He defeated, he broke. Ol sünu sïdï- he
defeated the soldier (10. DLT, 410) .
Čïqradï 1. It squeaked. Tïš čïqradï
- The teeth were
gnashed; 2. Qapuğ čïqradï
- The door creaked; 3. The
same word is also used for a person who is angry
because of greed or some other similar reason (10. DLT,
419).
Yadïsadï 1. Ol süsin yadïsadï- he wanted to distribute
his soldiers and other things; 2. The same word is also
used for spreading dough (10. DLT,426).
There is also a transfer of the name of one object to
another as a sign
: stone-
(“solid div” –
stone pear-
(“solid”), gold
-(name of a precious mineral)
–
gold
leaves-
(“sap
-
yellow”), etc. In this case, the name of the
thing means the sign [13.].
In “Devon” some obje
ct names also transferred to
another object as a sign. For example,
Et 1. Et, meat; 2. Et yer- soft ground, soft soil (10. DLT,
28 ).
Oq 1. Oʻq; 2. Oq Ilan
- arrow snake, a snake that shoots
itself at people (10. DLT,29).
Öz 1. Heart and abdominal organs;
özüm ağrïdï
- my
stomach hurts.; 2. Öz kišï
- close person, this is ours öz
kiši
- ol- this is our closest friend (10. DLT, 33).
Oğur 1. Time. Ne oğurda kelding
- what time did you
come? 2. Being on time, being on time. Bu iš oğluğ
boldï- this happened during work hours (10. DLT, 35).
Čöp 1. Juice concentrate and concentrate of anything;
2. Bad and evil person čöp čäp kišilar (10. DLT, 132).
So, we can say that metaphors are a specific product of
figurative thinking. In the 11th century, the creation of
a figurative meaning through metaphors not only
ensured economy in the language, but also had an
artistic touch.
CONCLUSION
Kashgari tried to record all the meanings of the words
used at that time as much as possible. It was found that
the dictionary contained lexical units with one, two and
six meanings. As a result of our observations on
“Devon”, about 214 polysemantic words used in the
11th century were identified. These polysemantic
words are within the categories of nouns, adjectives,
adverbs and verbs.
Most of the words in "Devon" are monosemantic.
These monosemantic words include awurta “midwife”,
alïmchi “lender”, elpi “uloq”, etuk “boots”, butïq
“branches”, izi “the year after next”, ya “yoy”, “bow”,
qïlič “sword” there are many examples of
monosemantic words, such as [14.].
"Devon" also explains a number of polysemantic words
used in the Turkic language during the Karakhanid
period: noun (öz, ağïz, uruğ, aluq, ötüg,), adjective (al,
öƞ, uduğ, ïduq, irig,), verb (očdï, emdi, attï, a:ğdï). The
emergence of polysemantic words is associated with
the development of lexical meaning. This dictionary is
of great scientific importance as it reflects important
information about the lexical composition of Turkic
languages in the 11th century, the principles of
lexicography of that period, and the orthography and
orthoepy of Turkic languages.
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