HOVSEP KURBANYAN’IN ROMANLARININ VE KATKIDA BULUNDUĞU ESERLERİN TÜRK KÜLTÜRÜ İÇİNDEKİ YERİ
THE PLACE OF HOVSEP KURBANYAN’S NOVELS AND CONTRIBUTED WORKS IN TURKISH CULTURE

Summary/Abstract: Over the centuries, Turkish has been written in diverse alphabets and served as a lingua franca among people with various mother tongues, contributing to the language's enrichment and the creation of numerous Turkish works. In the Ottoman era, the Armenians notably used Turkish as a shared language, infusing it with their distinct vernacular and utilizing their own alphabets for writing. This article specifically delves into the use of the Armenian alphabet for transcribing Turkish during a particular period, focusing on the works of Hovsep Kurbanyan in the late Ottoman period. The article aims to underscore the significance of works inscribed in Turkish using the Armenian alphabet in Turkish literature and language. These pieces also hold importance in portraying Turkish culture, particularly the folklore of Istanbul. Analyzing two novels by Hovsep Kurbanyan, İki Kapu Yoldaşları spanning three volumes, and Hayın Bir Adem, co-authored with Mihran Bidar Arabaciyan in two volumes, revealed valuable insights into Istanbul's social history, everyday life, and folklore. These works contribute significantly to understanding social history and the vivid portrayal of daily life and folklore in Istanbul. Additionally, the anthology Hazine-yi Eşar chiefly attributed to Mihran Bidar Arabaciyan but with Kurbanyan's contributions in publication, showcases the remarkable ability of Armenian aşuğs [minstrels] in using the Turkish language. This anthology provides essential insights into Turkish folk literature. Examining works inscribed in the Armeno-Turkish alphabet comprehensively will uncover the distinctive usage of Turkish by Istanbul's Armenian community, illuminating aspects of daily life, folklore, and the Turkish language within the Ottoman society, notably in Istanbul.

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