Relative clause structures between standard Turkish and Cypriot Turkish dialect. An analysis of change in Northern Cyprus

Abstract

Language variation and change are among the most significant topics in
sociolinguistics. In Cypriot Turkish, there is a notable need for morpho-syntactic research among Cypriot Turkish nationals.

To address this research gap, the present sociolinguistic study employs a mixed-method approach to investigate intergenerational usage of relative clauses (-şu ki) between older and younger generations. This phenomenon was explored through both comprehension and production analyses to determine whether language variation and change are occurring. The Sentence Intelligibility Test for perception (N = 1028) and the Picture Elicitation Task for production (N = 200) were used, supplemented by anchor questions among participants.

Statistical analysis of the Sentence Intelligibility Test indicated that comprehension of both the Cypriot Turkish CTD and the Standard Turkish CTD was at a similar level. However, data from the Picture Elicitation Task revealed differences in usage preferences based on participants’ gender, generation, and education level.

The production data showed that the younger generation is driving the variation in relative clause usage by adopting Standard Turkish relative clauses, despite demonstrating no comprehension difficulties with Cypriot Turkish relative clauses. In contrast, the older generation exhibited significantly higher usage of Cypriot Turkish, maintaining their national CTD.

Additionally, education level and gender emerged as key variables influencing this change. For instance, female participants were observed to favour Standard Turkish forms more frequently than Cypriot Turkish forms, whereas male participants showed a stronger preference for Cypriot relative clauses over Standard Turkish relative clauses.

These findings provide new insights into the sociolinguistic dynamics of Turkic
languages, highlighting how intergenerational and gendered differences contribute to broader patterns of linguistic standardization and CTD preservation.

By contextualizing these findings within research on Turkic languages, this study
contributes to a broader understanding of language variation and change in different Turkish CTDs in Northern Cyprus. The thesis concludes with recommendations for further research into this ongoing variation and change.

Date of Award	30 Sept 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Northumbria University
Supervisor	Robert McKenzie (Supervisor) & Phillip Wallage (Supervisor)