The Problem of Plant Names’ Latin Scientific Equivalents in Old Anatolian Turkish Medical Manuscript Studies

Abstract

Vocabulary studies are of significant importance for linguistic and cultural research because the worldview of a society is hidden in the verbal repertoire of its language. In studies on medical texts of the Old Anatolian Turkish period, it has been determined that there are errors and inconsistencies in the Latin equivalents of the plant names. The aim of this article is to reveal the true Latin equivalents of the plant names whose Latin equivalents are given incorrectly. To achieve this aim, we determined the sample selected by evaluating the forms in the indexes and dictionaries of fourteen Old Anatolian Turkish medical manuscript studies. Through this sample, we have attempted both to examine the reasons for the related discrepancies, as well as put forth solutions on how to eliminate them were evaluated. Such inconsistencies not only mislead scholars but also present them numerous challenges when it comes to further research. One of the aims of the study is to draw attention to such difficulties and discuss the measures that can be taken on the relevant issue.

Vitiligo treatment with coloured illustration by Turkish physician Şerefeddin Sabuncuoğlu, in the 15th century

“…Apply it to that place so it heals if God will'. *Latin equivalent of 'lisan-ül-hamel' is Plantago major L. 2 The differences between Sabuncuoğlu's text and Albucasis' 3 text are as follows:…”