Suffixes with “-GU” in Khalaj Turkic: A Historical-Comparative Analysis

Abstract

In the historical Turkic language field, the -GU suffix has been used for two basic functions, both in this form and in the forms expanded with various derivational or inflectional suffixes: forming a verbal noun with the function of “-mAK ~ -mA” and indicating future tense. The -GU verbal noun suffix and the necessitative moods based on the -GU ~ -KU kerek arrangement are widespread in Old Uyghur and Karakhanid Turkic. The necessitative moods in question are quite limited in Khwarezm Turkic; however, they do not exist in Kipchak and Oghuz Turkic. For this reason, necessitative moods with the -GU verbal noun suffix are not seen in the dialects that developed from Khwarezm-Chagatai, Kipchak and Oghuz Turkic. In Khalaj Turkic, the -GU suffix is used as a verbal noun function. Khalaj Turkic differs greatly from General Turkic with the verb nouns with the -GU suffix. The verb noun function in Khalaj Turkic is found in the -GU and -GUçA suffixes. In addition, in some suffixes of New Uyghur Turkic, -GU is used as a verbal noun function. These are the verbal adverbial suffixes -GIlI ~ -KIlI (< -GU + -lI) and -GIçA ~ -KIçA (< -GU + -çA) and the agent noun suffix -GUçi (< -GU + -çi). Khalah Turkic and New Uyghur Turkic have in common the existence of the verbal noun suffix -GU. The suffixes -GU and -GUlUK, which are seen with common functions and arrangements in historical dialects, attract attention with their prevalence.