Words that constitute a language’s core vocabulary undergo semantic change through frequent use and are sometimes used in meanings different from their original sense. Galat dictionaries in historical Turkish were produced to identify such incorrect usages and to determine the correct forms, meanings, and origins of words. Tahsisü’l-Galatât ve’l-Muḥarrefât fi’l-Esma’i ve’l-Lugât, written by Mustafa İzzet in 1884, focuses on Turkish words and loanwords believed to be misused. This study examines etymological analyses in the dictionary under eleven categories and evaluates their accuracy by comparing them with scientific data and modern etymological dictionaries. Beyond assessing these analyses, the study also aims to demonstrate that insufficient linguistic awareness among Turkish speakers and a tendency to associate Turkish words with foreign languages rather than their native context may lead to erroneous etymological interpretations. In this respect, the study contributes to the field by encouraging reflection on the scope and function of galat dictionaries.
Vocabulary, loanword, galat dictionaries, etymological analyses.