SOCIOECONOMIC INFLUENCES ON TURKISH PRONUNCIATION: A SOCIOLINGUISTIC EXPLORATION OF THE RHOTIC 'R' SOUND

Abstract This sociolinguistic study explores the intricate relationship between socioeconomic factors and linguistic variation in Turkish pronunciation, focusing specifically on the continuous tense affix -yor. Employing a methodology inspired by Labov, we utilized a stratified sampling technique to select 65 participants from diverse occupational backgrounds, education levels, ages, and income groups in the Van, Türkiye region, capturing the linguistic diversity within the Turkish-speaking community. Through unstructured personal interviews, participants were encouraged to use natural language, enabling the categorization of pronunciation patterns as either rhotic or non-rhotic based on their emphasis on the '-yor' sound. Our analysis, incorporating phonetic transcription and quantitative methods akin to Labov's sociolinguistic analyses, reveals a significant correlation between socioeconomic status and pronunciation tendencies. Notably, participants with higher income and university education tend to emphasize the '-yor' sound, while those with lower income and primary school education often omit it. This research not only contributes to understanding linguistic variation in Turkish but also underscores the cultural significance of language choices, reflecting broader social and economic contexts in Turkish society. By focusing on the continuous tense affix -yor, this study sheds light on the dynamic nature of language variation in Turkish and sets the stage for future studies on the social and language differences in Turkish