DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/XXXX-XXXX/3/23-28

The Role of Qutb’s “Khosrow and Shirin” in the Development of the 14th-Century Turkic Literary Language

Aydan Musayeva

Abstract. The 13th–14th centuries are regarded as one of the most significant and complex stages in the development of the Turkic literary language. During this period, political, cultural, and literary changes within the Turkic world contributed to the formation of various literary languages and the emergence of numerous valuable written literary works. Khwarazm Turkic and Golden Horde Turkic, which occupied a transitional position between Karakhanid (Khaqani) and Chagatai Turkic, played a distinctive role in the history of the Turkic written language during the 13th–14th centuries. The literary works produced in the Khwarazm and Golden Horde cultural environments constitute important sources for studying the linguistic characteristics and developmental stages of the literary language of that era. This article examines the role of Qutb’s 14th-century masnavi, “Khosrow and Shirin,” in the development of the Turkic literary language. The study demonstrates that this work is not merely a translation but also an independent literary monument reflecting the artistic and expressive potential of the Turkic literary language. Its phonetic, lexical, and grammatical features indicate its significant place in the history of the language. The coexistence of different Turkic linguistic layers and dialectal features in the text reflects the interaction among the Turkic written languages of the 14th century. The article also highlights the importance of Qutb’s “Khosrow and Shirin” in the formation of the Turkic literary language, the adaptation of the classical Eastern literary heritage into Turkic, and the study of the literary environment of the 14th century.