Nutshell , Turkish : Chris Sinha & Tania Kuteva
Chris Sinha and Tania Kuteva are linguists who have studied the semantics of spatial expressions in
various languages, including Turkish. According to their research, spatial expressions in Turkish are
closely tied to the cultural and cognitive context in which they are used.
Sinha and Kuteva note that Turkish spatial expressions rely heavily on reference frames, which are
used to anchor spatial relations to specific points or directions. For example, the reference frame for
the Turkish word "üstünde" (on top of) is the horizontal plane, while the reference frame for
"altında" (under) is the ground plane.
The choice of reference frame in Turkish is influenced by cultural factors, such as the emphasis on
horizontality and the importance of the ground plane in everyday life. This cultural context also
affects the use of other spatial expressions, such as "arkasında" (behind), which is often used to
indicate hierarchy or social distance.
Another important aspect of Turkish spatial expressions is the use of deixis, or words that point to
specific locations or objects. Turkish deixis is based on the speaker's perspective and uses a system of
adverbs and suffixes to indicate spatial relations. For example, the suffix "-de" can indicate proximity,
while the adverb "şurada" means "over there" and is used to indicate distance.
Sinha and Kuteva also note that Turkish spatial expressions are closely linked to the body and bodily
experience. For example, the word "önünde" (in front of) is often used to describe objects that are
located within arm's reach, while the word "yanında" (beside) is often used to describe objects that
are within the visual field.
Overall, the semantics of spatial expressions in Turkish are shaped by cultural, cognitive, and bodily
factors. By understanding these factors, we can gain a deeper appreciation of how Turkish speakers
conceptualize and navigate space, and how this understanding compares to other cultures and
languages.