Language Change in Turkish Novel From Tanzimat to Republic Era with Text Mining and Stylometric Approach METİN MADENCİLİĞİ VE STİLOMETRİ YAKLAŞIMIYLA TANZİMAT’TAN CUMHURİYET’E TÜRK ROMANINDA DİL DEĞİŞİMİ

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BAYRAK AKYILDIZ H., AKYILDIZ M.

Turkbilig, vol.2026, no.51, pp.126-148, 2026 (Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 2026 Issue: 51
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.59257/turkbilig.1598237
  • Journal Name: Turkbilig
  • Journal Indexes: Scopus, Linguistic Bibliography, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, MLA International Bibliography
  • Page Numbers: pp.126-148
  • Keywords: Dil Devrimi, Dil değişimi, Language evolution, Language Revolution, Metin madenciliği, Stilometri, Stylometry, Text mining, Turkish novel, Türk romanı, Yeni Lisan, Yeni Lisan
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Anadolu University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study aims to examine language changes in Turkish novels from the Tanzimat period to 1950 using quantitative methods. By analyzing the linguistic features specific to each period, the study investigates the effects of these changes on lexical richness, word diversity, sentence length, and the use of nominal phrases. A total of 29 novels wriaen between the Tanzimat period and 1950 were analyzed. The texts were digitized and evaluated using text mining and stylometric methods, examining differences in word frequencies, types, and nominal phrases. 56% of the words of Tanzimat period continued to be used in later periods, with a notable transfer of words into the Republican era. The usage of Oaoman Turkish words that are used to form nominal phrases such as nazar-ı, hüsn-i, and suret-i significantly declined during the Republican era. Additionally, while the use of Turkish-origin words like duygu (emotion), evlenmek (to marry), and yaşam (life) increased in the Republican period, the usage of Arabic and Persian-origin words decreased. The findings indicate a trend toward simplification and modernization of the language between the Tanzimat and Republican periods. However, concerns about the impoverishment of the language, which formed one of the main oppositions to these movements, proved unfounded. The vocabulary richness of the Republican period aaests to this. These findings reflect the impact of the New Language movement and the Language Reform. Despite the changes in the Turkish lexicon, the distribution of word types remained largely consistent across periods.