How Karacaoglan Said His Pseudonym?

• Published in: Millî folklor Vol. 12; no. 91; pp. 51 - 59
• Main Author: Yildiz, Naciye
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Turkish
• Published: 01.10.2011
• Subjects: Creativity; Cultural dynamics; Folk poetry; Folklore; Literature; Oral literature; Poetry; Said, Karacaoglan; Tradition; Word Meaning
• ISSN: 1300-3984

Nicknaming (Tapsirma) is a term that belongs to the folk poetry tradition and can be defined as "the telling by the minstrel his or her pseudonym in the last stanza of a poem." Utilization of a name or a pseudonym by a poet is not the convention that is merely authentic to folk literature. We see that the poets use pseudonym as of the thirteenth century also in the divan and dervish lodge literature. This convention has been used in folk poetry without interruption since the sixteenth century by the representatives of the convention. Insomuch as, the convention of telling the pseudonym was continued in part in the modern literature period by the "Pentameterers." Nicknaming means the undersigning of the poem by its poet and it also indicates the termination of the poem. Which oral patterns are used by the minstrels when nicknaming? It is assumed in this study that the oral patterns used during the nicknaming may provide the details with regard to the preference of the minstrel and that the nicknaming forms are stereotyped. Karacaoglan is one of the strongest grand masters of folk poetry convention. Thus, in this study, the formulas regarding the utterance of a pseudonym belonging to Karacaoglan were determined, these patterns were made subject to an examination in terms of their structures, and an assessment was tried to propound having demonstrated their frequency of utilization. As a result of the assessment, we have determined that Karacaoglan has used some patterns more in number compared to others and that some nicknaming formulas were only used in some poems that were recited using particular syllabic meter patterns. However, ultimate objective of this study is to manifest the place of the oral patterns used in nicknaming verses within the convention and to designate the originality of such patterns and their structures resulting from the tradition. Therefore, the oral formulas used by the other minstrels for nicknaming must be evaluated. Adapted from the source document