OK+SEREK / OK+SARAK

Word #4: Folio 85v and 86r (The Map Foldout) Text in Latin: “OIKSÆRÆK”/ “OIKISÆRÆK” (OIKSEREK / OIKSARAK / OIKISEREK). This is a compound word that combines the words “OIK” and “SÆRÆK (SEREK / SARAK)”. The first word that appears in this compound structure is “OIK”/ “OIK-I (-I”: these are an Object Pointer Suffixes\ and see appendix 1-a)”. This word in modern Turkish would be read as “OK ”. The word is defined as “arrow”, “archery”, “missile”, “diameter”, and “calibre” (Akalın, Clauson, Eyüboğlu, Gülensoy, Sözce). Since the second word of the compound structure can be read as both “SEREK” and “SARAK”, here are the definitions for both: The word “SEREK” is defined as “square”, “field”, and “yard” (Akalın, Clauson, Gülensoy, Sözce). The word “SARAK” is defined as (an architectural term) “faces of the building/constructed structures”, “a fancy horizontally wide plain string”. In other words, this is describing a wide, slightly protruding, fancy, or straight belt that runs horizontally against the wall (from one end to the other) of an architectural structure (Akalın, Clauson, Gülensoy, Sözce). Today there is a historical archery square in Istanbul city (formerly known as Constantinople) called “OKMEYDANI ” (in modern Turkish). It is also important to keep in mind that “MEYDAN” and “SEREK” are both synonyms, as they both mean “square” (Akalın, Clauson, Gülensoy, Sözce). Since there was no Turkish occupation of Constantinople prior to the year 1453’s, The Byzantine Empire probably had a different name for the square they have constructed. However, there were many Turks living in that region prior to the invasion, and these Turks referred to this square as “OKSEREK (“OIKSEREK”)”. Furthermore, it is important to note that the Ottoman Turks, as well as many other Turkish tribes and nations before them, used the term “SEREK” as “square”. In summation, “SARAK” is an architectural term used to describe a specific structure. However, the elliptical shape that is illustrated on the VM map page suggests that the word was “SEREK” (square). Thus, the term “OKSEREK” is directly defined and translated as “archery square”. Appendix 1. Suffix and Their Roles a. “-Ü/-U” and “-İ/-I”: these are an Object Pointer Suffixes (Turkish Direct Object Suffix (accusative) such as “the” in English). (Clauson, Guise) There is a construction in Turkish which means "belonging to". In English generally only the possessor is marked as in Ahmet's car. The 's tells us that the car belongs to Ahmet. The possessed (Formation of the Possessed) item in Turkish is suffixed with -i, -ı, -u, -ü (Such as; his, hers, its. Buffer -n- is used when suffixed to vowels: → -si, -sı, -su, -sü. The only exception is 'su' (water). 'Su' uses the buffer letter -y- such as 'suyu'.(Guise) In addition, suffixes ‘-ı -i -u -ü’ is added to single syllable words ending in a consonant and a noun of result from the verb modified such as ‘ölmek’ (to die) → ‘ölü’ (a corpse), ‘yapmak’ (to make) → ‘yapı’ (a construction, a building). (Guise) Main Resources: 1- “Sözce” Vagonn. Sözce Sözlük, N.p. Web. 4 Jan. 2017 <https://sozce.com/nedir/324860-ulker>. 2- Clauson, Gerard (Sir). An etymological dictionary of pre-Thirteenth-Century Turkish. 1972. Oxford University, Clarendon Press. Print. 3- Eyuboğlu, İsmet Zeki. Türkçe kökler sözlüğü. Remzi Kitabevi, 1989. Print. 4- Guise, John. “Manisa Turkish. – The Turkish Language and its Grammar explained for English Speakers”. Author: John Guise. Web. 2 Feb. 2017 to 2020 <http://www.turkishexplained.com/>, 5- Gülensoy, Tuncer, and Amanoğlu, Ebulfez Kuluyev, and Küçüker, Paki. Nahçıvan ağzı giriş, inceleme, metinler, dizinler, sözlük. Türk Dil Kurumu Yayınları, 2009. Print. 6- Akalın, Şükrü Halûk. Türkçe sözlük. Atatürk Kültür, Dil ve Tarih Yüksek Kurumu, Türk Dil Kurumu 2011. Print.