Abstract:

The Turkish language is the outlet where Turkish culture comes to life and finds the opportunity to express itself. It is impossible to imagine Turkish culture without the Turkish language. Proper names, especially in Turkish, are the keystones of Turkish culture. Even the personal names alone can represent the discussed society. This study aims to prove whether the personal names in Turkish Language and Culture textbooks, written in 2019 for Turkish children, who live in different countries, were chosen among the names that reflect Turkish culture. For this purpose, responses were sought to the following sub-questions: "Which "female" names were mentioned in Turkish Language and Culture Textbooks?" and "Which "male" names were mentioned in Turkish Language and Culture textbooks?What is the frequency of these names in the books?"What is the place of these names in the name-giving tradition?“What are the personal names in Turkish Language and Culture?” Document review, one of the qualitative research methods, is used in the study. The results of the study indicate that male and female names which appear in books about Turkish Language and Culture overlap with the most commonly used male names (Mehmet, Mustafa, Ahmet) and female names (Fatma, Ayşe, Emine) in Turkey according to the studies on the personal names of Turks and the data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The names, which appear in the books, were chosen among the names commonly used in Turkey and in the way that they can constitute examples of the different reasons for the name-giving tradition in Turkish culture; they reflect Turkish culture. Among the personal names in the books, "the percentage of names given under the influence of Islam (28%)" and "the percentage of names chosen from words that sound good and have a beautiful meaning (25%)" provide the majority as a percentage.

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