A Comparative Analysis of the Semantic Field in Rabatak and Orkhon Inscriptions

Abstract

Unlike hitherto conducted onomastic studies on the Old Turkic and Middle Iranian languages of historic period, this study includes a comparative semantic field analysis of the vocabulary attributed to shahs and qagans in Rabatak and Orkhon inscriptions. In the “Introduction” section of the study, the term “semantic field”, which outlines the theoretical framework of the study, has been described, and the attention drawn to the early period interactions between the Bactrians and the Turks. In the “Analysis” section, the words and phrases defining the shahs and qagans have been collected under the title of the semantic fields of “abstract concepts”, “connection” and “management qualifications”. It has been determined that there is a vocabulary that associates the shahs and the qagans with a divine power in the semantic field of “abstract concepts”. In the semantic field of “connection”, it has been determined that there is a vocabulary that gives information about the society and family members. Also, in the semantic field of “management qualifications”, a vocabulary that articulates the positive characteristics of the shahs and qagans has been determined to function. In the last part of the study, a comparison has
been made between vocabulary of the Rabatak and Orkhon inscriptions. Based on the comparison, it has been observed that the vocabulary in the Rabatak inscription defines “the shah Kanishka” with his self-characteristics whereas the vocabulary in Orkhon inscriptions defines Turkish qagans in terms of the opportunities provided to the public. In addition to this, different from the Rabatak inscription, it has been noted that the Orkhon inscription includes the vocabulary that defines women rulers.