Çapan: A name from Aksaray in the frame of Turkish name giving tradition [Türk ad verme gelene?i? çerçevesi?nde Aksaray'dan bi?r i?si?m: Çapan]

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Date

2007

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info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess

Abstract

Such masculine names as Temel, Ökkeş, and Ahmet Turan are associated with the Black Sea region, Kahramanmaraş, and Sivas respectively, for these names are specific to these places and each one is very frequently used in its region. Similarly, there are such other names that are exclusive to the province of Aksaray. The names Ali Baba, Çapan, Şammaz, and Yunus Emre are often encountered in the region. These four names are given to children due to the tombs located in different parts of the city that are believed to belong to the saints with those names. As the locations of Ali Baba and Yunus Emre tombs are not limited to Aksaray, these two names are observed to be frequently used in other certain areas of the country as well. However, the tombs of Şammaz and Çapan exist only in Aksaray, and therefore, these two names are most often found in this city. A word from Old Turkish, Çapan is derived from the verb çap-. The noun and the verb form of the word can be traced back in written sources to some one thousand years ago. The verb çap- and some of its derivatives can be found in other Turkic dialects, as it has existed since Old Turkish time. The number of the names Çapan / Çapan Dede / Çapandede registered in Turkey is 2116. 1878 of them are in Aksaray. Thus, it would be plausible to claim that the source of the name is this city. The tomb of Çapan Dede, the reason for giving boys the name Çapan, is located on a bill in the vicinity of Altinkaya town of Aksaray. A series of beliefs have developed around the tomb. It is believed that a woman who does not have a boy will be given one with God's permission provided that she visits the tomb under certain rules and rituals. In addition to Çapan Dede, there are also other tombs in Altinkaya of Çal / Çali / Dede, Gül Dede, Kaş / Kaşli Dede, and Ömer / Omar Dede. Even though a name-giving tradition has developed around these tombs, too, it has not been as strong as that of Çapan Dede. The tomb-centered name-giving tradition still continues, though it is a weaker practice now than what it used to be in the past years. A collection of superstitions developed around the tombs in the town is also included in the present study.

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Keywords

Aaksaray, Çapan, Onomasiologie, Tomb

Journal or Series

Milli Folklor

WoS Q Value

Scopus Q Value

Q2

Volume

10

Issue

76

Citation