Durub al-Masal al-Osmaniyye (Book)

Durûb-ı Emsâl-i Osmâniyye is a comprehensive work compiled by the 19th-century Ottoman intellectual Şinâsi, written in Ottoman Turkish and containing proverbs and idioms. Notable for its literary, linguistic, and folkloric characteristics, this compilation uniquely documents both the variety of usage of proverbs and idioms and their presence in written sources. The edition presented to contemporary readers and researchers was prepared by Professor Dr. Süreyya Beyzadeoğlu and published under the series of the Ministry of National Education’s Science and Culture Works.

Definition and Nature of the Work

Durûb-ı Emsâl-i Osmâniyye, published in 1302/1885, contains a total of 4,006 proverbs and idioms along with 838 couplets. In this regard, the work is regarded as an important source reflecting the linguistic, cultural, and literary sensibilities of its time. The proverbs and idioms are presented not only by meaning but also through their usage in both prose and poetic examples. This feature elevates the work beyond a mere compilation, transforming it into a study that enables observation of the literary and cultural functions of language within its context.

The lexical inventory in the work is not limited to Turkish alone; it also includes 64 Arabic, 226 Persian, 122 French, and 2 Latin proverbs and idioms. This diversity offers significant insights into the multilingual and multicultural structure of Ottoman society.

Form and Content Features

The content of the work is systematically classified both thematically and structurally. As emphasized by Professor Dr. Süreyya Beyzadeoğlu’s study, Durûb-ı Emsâl-i Osmâniyye not only provides the meanings of proverbs and idioms but also includes examples of how they are employed in specific literary texts. In this context, two primary features of the work stand out:

1. The large number of proverbs and idioms,
2. Their presentation alongside literary examples of their usage.

Thematic Classifications

The proverbs and idioms in the work are examined under specific thematic categories:

• Place names: 107 proverbs and idioms include references to country names such as Arabia, Algeria, Frangistan, India, and Yemen, as well as city and district names like Istanbul, Edirne, Baghdad, Bursa, Kayseri, and Damascus.
• Personal names: 70 expressions are associated with 52 personal names, including legendary figures.
• Communities and religions: 46 expressions relate to communities such as Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Armenians, Greeks, English, Lazes, and Tatars; 9 expressions pertain to religious groups including Muslims, Jews, and Zoroastrians.
• Expressions concerning women: 16 proverbs and idioms refer to women, most of which reflect the prevailing societal values of the period.

Structural Features

The text has also been analyzed according to formal distinctions:

• Repeated proverbs and idioms
• Partially differing but semantically similar expressions
• Expressions occurring in prose
• Expressions composed of couplets or verses
• Mixed-language expressions: Half-Arabic/half-Turkish; or Persian-Arabic hybrid expressions
• Multilingual equivalents: The work also presents equivalent forms of the same proverb in different languages.

Compilation and Modern Publication

In its modern edition, Durûb-ı Emsâl-i Osmâniyye is organized into four main sections:

1. The lives of Şinâsi and Ebüzziya Tevfik: Of the proverbs included in the work, 1,506 were added later by Ebüzziya and are marked in the text with the symbol “§”.
2. Analysis of form and content: The content and structural categories outlined above are detailed in this section.
3. Principles of textual editing and the base text: The presentation to the modern reader adheres closely to the original structure of the work.
4. Comparative index: In comparison with Ömer Asım Aksoy’s Atasözleri ve Deyimler Sözlüğü, 2,125 proverbs and idioms found in Durûb-ı Emsâl-i Osmâniyye but absent from Aksoy’s dictionary have been identified. This section is significant for highlighting differences between the two works.

The Turkish Image in the Work

One of the most striking thematic groupings in the text is expressions concerning Turkish identity. These expressions reflect the social norms and ethnic representations of the period. Examples from the work include:

• Dertsiz baş Türkî’de gerek.
• Türk işi ödünçtür.
• Türk ata binince kendisini beğ oldum sanır.
• Türk’ün aklı sonradan gelir.
• Türk poh pohdan, şehrî peh pehden hoşlanır.

As these examples illustrate, such expressions record both individual and collective behavioral codes through folkloric formulations.

Cultural Value

Durûb-ı Emsâl-i Osmâniyye is not merely a collection of proverbs; it also functions as a cultural mirror. The expressions within it carry traces of diverse nations, religions, and social groups, reflecting the Ottoman society’s worldview, everyday life, and value systems. The coexistence of commentary on different communities, personality types, professions, and geographic regions reveals the broad and layered structure of popular memory.