COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES IN THE PARIS AND KASTAMONU COPIES OF BULGHAT AL-MUSHTAQ

This study presents a comparative analysis of the Paris and Kastamonu manuscripts of Bulghat al-Mushtaq, a medieval Turkic lexicographic work. The research focuses on the internal organization of the dictionary, including the treatment of nouns, adjectives, adverbs, numerals, and pronouns. Both manuscripts preserve a rich nominal lexicon encompassing proper and common nouns, as well as compound forms derived from adjective–noun and noun–verb constructions. Differences are particularly evident in the presentation of adjectives and adverbs: in the Paris manuscript, adjectives appear interspersed with nouns, whereas in the Kastamonu manuscript, adjectives and colours are systematically arranged in dedicated sections. Similarly, adverbs of time and place are more clearly categorized in the Kastamonu copy. The analysis further highlights differences in the organization of numerals and pronouns, reflecting distinct editorial approaches. These findings demonstrate that variations between the two manuscripts are not only formal but also pedagogically and lexicographically significant, offering insight into medieval Turkic language practices and dictionary compilation methods.