How different are the Azeri and Turkish languages?
What is the fifference between Turkish language in Turkey and Azerbaijani Turkish?
The Turkish spoken in Turkey and the Azerbaijani Turkish (or Azeri) spoken in Azerbaijan are both varieties of the Turkic language family, but they have some key differences in terms of vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and usage.
How similar is Azerbaijani to Turkish language?
Here’s a detailed comparison between the Turkish language spoken in Turkey and Azerbaijan:
1. Vocabulary Differences
While both languages share a lot of common vocabulary due to their shared Turkic roots, there are distinct differences in the words used for everyday objects, concepts, and even modern terms. For example:
Turkish in Turkey:
- Telefon (phone)
- Televizyon (television)
- Araba (car)
Azerbaijani Turkish:
- Telefon (same, but pronounced slightly differently)
- Televiziya (television)
- Maşın (car)
2. Pronunciation Differences
Pronunciation is one of the most noticeable differences between Turkish in Turkey and Azerbaijani Turkish.
Although both languages have similar phonetic systems, the accent, intonation, and the articulation of certain sounds can differ significantly.
Key Pronunciation Differences:
Azerbaijani Turkish tends to have a more clear and distinct pronunciation of vowels.
For example, the vowel "a" in Azerbaijani is pronounced more strongly, while in Turkish, the vowel sounds can sometimes be softened.
Vowel reduction is less common in Azerbaijani Turkish compared to Turkish in Turkey, where some vowels in unstressed syllables may be reduced or dropped.
3. Grammar and Syntax
In general, the grammar of both languages is similar, but there are some notable differences in sentence structure, verb conjugation, and syntax.
Examples of Grammar Differences :
Use of the possessive suffix
- Turkish in Turkey: "Evimiz" (our house)
- Azerbaijani Turkish: "Evimiz" (same word but might be pronounced slightly differently depending on the region).
Use of certain tenses and verb forms:
Some verb conjugations differ, especially with the use of auxiliary verbs.
- Turkish: "Gidiyorum" (I am going).
- Azerbaijani Turkish: "Gedirem" (I am going).
4. Influence of Other Languages
Both languages have been influenced by other languages over time, but the influences differ.
Turkish in Turkey:
Turkish has a significant influence from French, Italian, and Persian due to historical interactions and Westernization, especially in modern vocabulary related to technology, law, and politics.
Turkish has undergone a language reform in the 20th century to simplify and purify the language, eliminating many Arabic and Persian loanwords.
Azerbaijani Turkish:
Azerbaijani has been more influenced by Russian due to Azerbaijan's history as part of the Soviet Union, especially in terms of vocabulary related to government, education, and industry.
It retains more Persian and Arabic loanwords compared to Turkish in Turkey, reflecting the historical connection between Azerbaijan and Persia (modern Iran).
5. Spelling and Alphabet
Both languages use the Latin alphabet today, but there are slight differences in the characters and how certain letters are used or pronounced.
Turkish in Turkey:
Turkish uses the standard Latin alphabet (with 29 letters). Notably, it has the letters "Ç, Ş, Ğ, İ, Ö, Ü".
Azerbaijani Turkish:
Azerbaijani also uses the Latin alphabet, but the **Ğ** is not typically used. Instead, there is a letter "Ə" (schwa), which is used in Azerbaijani but not in Turkish.
6. Cultural and Regional Influences
There are also cultural and historical influences that affect the way Turkish is spoken in both regions.
Turkish in Turkey:
The standard variety of Turkish spoken in Turkey is heavily influenced by the modernized, westernized culture of Turkey.
This is reflected in the formality of the language in public institutions, business, and education.
Azerbaijani Turkish:
While Azerbaijani is also a modern language, it carries more traditional elements from the Persian language, as well as regional dialects influenced by the Caucasus and Iranian cultures.
7. Mutual Intelligibility
Although Turkish and Azerbaijani Turkish are very similar and share a high degree of mutual intelligibility, they are not identical.
A native speaker of Turkish will generally be able to understand Azerbaijani and vice versa, though there might be some confusion due to differences in vocabulary and pronunciation, especially for modern terms.
8. Examples of Differences in Sentences
Turkish in Turkey:
Benim adıma bir şey var mı? (Is there something for me?)
Azerbaijani Turkish:
Mənim adım üçün bir şey var mı? (Is there something for me?)
In summary, while Turkish in Turkey and Azerbaijani Turkish are very similar and mutually intelligible, they have differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and cultural influences.
The differences between the two languages are similar to those between British and American English, where the core structure is the same, but regional variations make them distinct.
If you know one, you can easily pick up the other, but you might need to adjust to some new vocabulary and pronunciation nuances.
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