İkiliğin Ötesinde: Türkçenin Merceğinden Bir İmla Derinliği Muhakemesi

Abstract

In this study, we chart a course through the labyrinthine array of orthographic systems, casting aside the customary binary of ‘shallow’ and ‘deep’ orthographies. The Turkish language, commonly typecast as a quintessential shallow language, becomes our focal point, unearthing the sophisticated and layered structures that underpin orthographic depth. Our enquiry digs into linguistic elements unique to Turkish, such as the irregular representation of vowel length, a characteristic that weaves additional complexity into the ordinarily clear-cut fabric of grapheme-phoneme correspondence. The driving ambition of this enterprise is to shed light on the richly diverse, and frequently overlooked, intricacies deeply rooted in the orthography of modern standard Turkish. In this endeavor, we aim to redefine the understanding of orthographic depth and its influence on language learning and the development of literacy. Our discoveries position Turkish at an ‘intermediate’ point on the orthographic depth continuum, thus sparking a reassessment of current pedagogical strategies. We put forth a more flexible interpretation of the orthographic spectrum as a fresh approach to the study and pedagogy of orthography. By charting the fluid interplay between orthography and phonology, we craft a comprehensive narrative of their interconnectedness, a perspective vital to the comprehension and application of language. This venture seeks to enrich our communal understanding of orthographic systems and hopes to bring their pivotal role in language instruction and literacy advancement into clearer focus.