Reflexive & Reciprocal Voices in Turkish (-in, -iş)
Reflexive and Reciprocal Voices (-in, -iş)
The reflexive suffix -(I)n shows the subject acting upon oneself (giyindi = dressed oneself); the reciprocal -(I)ş shows mutual action (görüştük = we met).
Turkish includes two specialized grammatical voices for internal and cooperative agency:
1. *Reflexive Voice (Dönüşlü Çatı with -(I)n / -n): Indicates that the subject performs an action upon itself and directly experiences the result (distinct from the passive, where the agent is external): - giy-mek (to dress) → giy-in-mek (to dress oneself / get dressed) - yıka-mak (to wash) → yıka-n-mak (to wash oneself / bathe) - tara-mak (to comb) → tara-n-mak (to comb one's own hair) - süsle-mek (to decorate) → süsle-n-mek (to dress up / spruce oneself up). 2. Reciprocal / Cooperative Voice (İşteşlik Çatısı with -(y)Iş / -ş): Indicates that an action is performed mutually between two or more participants ('each other') or collectively as a group ('together'): - Mutual (Karşılıklı): gör-üş-mek (to see each other / meet), selam-laş-mak (to greet each other), mektup-laş-mak (to correspond), tartış-mak (to debate). - Collective (Birlikte): kaç-ış-mak (to scatter / flee in all directions), uç-uş-mak (to fly around together), gül-üş-mek* (to laugh together).
Understanding the semantic contrast between passive -il (external cause) and reflexive -in (self-directed agency) is essential for nuanced Turkish communication.
Examples
Eski okul arkadaşımla dün meydanda karşılaşıp uzun uzun görüştük.
I ran into my old school friend in the square yesterday and we talked for a long time.
Sabah erkenden kalkıp yıkandı ve temiz elbiselerini giyindi.
He woke up early in the morning, washed himself, and put on his clean clothes.
İki komşu bayram sabahında kapıda sıcak bir şekilde kucaklaştı.
The two neighbors warmly hugged each other at the doorstep on holiday morning.
Küçük çocuklar parkta neşeyle gülüşüp oyunlar oynadılar.
The little children laughed together cheerfully in the park and played games.
Related terms
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