Abstract:

In this study, the settlement names of Manavgat district of Antalya were examined in terms of toponyms. As it is known, the field of toponymy, that studies the emergence, structures, meanings, developments, traditions and principles of their emergence, is called toponymy. The material covered in the study is limited to the names of villages and neighborhoods within the administrative boundaries of Manavgat, which have been converted into neighborhoods through the Turkish Metropolitan Law. The study primarily employs descriptive and historical methods to analyze the place names in terms of type, origin, structure, and meaning. The names of the settlement areas belonging to Manavgat are first compiled from written sources to establish their general characteristics and identify characteristic features and trends in their nomenclature. Additionally, the historical appearance of the place names is presented based on sources. Consequently, the study is divided into three main sections: lexical-semantic classification, grammatical classification, and etymological classification. It is observed that the place names in Manavgat consist of names based on nature and physical features, as well as names related to individuals and society. In terms of grammatical classification, the toponyms are categorized as simple, derived, and compound names. Compound names are predominantly preferred when naming the settlement areas in Manavgat. Regarding their origin, nearly all of the place names in Manavgat are derived from Turkish words, indicating the region’s longstanding significance as a Turkish settlement.

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