Middle Turkic

Middle Turkic refers to a phase in the development of the Turkic language family, covering much of the Middle Ages (c. 900-1500 CE). In particular the term is used by linguists to refer to a group of Oghuz and related languages spoken during this period in Central Asia, Iran, and parts of the Middle East occupied by the Seljuk Turks. Its best known literary form is the Karakhanid dialects spoken in Kashgar, Balasaghun and other cities along the Silk Road. The literary language of the Chagatai Khanate is considered a later form of Middle Turkic. Confusingly, the Oghuz "Middle Turkic" period overlaps with the East Turkic Old Turkic period, which covers the 8th to 13th centuries.

Literary works of the Middle Turkic period

*The "Book of Dede Korkut"
*The "Epic of Köroğlu"
*Mahmud al-Kashgari's "Divânü Lügati't-Türk"
*Yusuf Balasaghuni's "Kutadgu Bilig"
*The works of Ali-Shir Nava'i, including:
**"Ghara’ib al-Sighar" ("Wonders of Childhood")
**"Naivadir al-Shabab" ("Witticisms of Youth")
**"Bada'i' al-Wasat" ("Marvels of Middle Age")
**"Fawi'id al-Kibar" ("Advantages of Old Age")
**"Muhakamat al-Lughatayn ("Judgment between the Two Languages")
*The Mughal Emperor Babur's "Baburnama"

ee also

*Old Turkic
*Proto-Turkic
*Turkish literature

References

*Sinor, Dennis. "Old Turkic and Middle Turkic Languages." "History of the Civilizations of Central Asia", vol. IV, 2 (2000), pp. 331-334.