Research article | Open Access
International Journal of Language and Education Research 2025, Vol. 7(3) 239-249
Quantitative Stylometric Analysis of Orhan Veli Kanık’s Poetry: Lexical Diversity and Thematic Condensation
pp. 239 - 249
Publish Date: December 31, 2025 | Single/Total View: 4/2 | Single/Total Download: 4/2
Abstract
This study longitudinally examines the stylistic evolution of Orhan Veli Kanık's poetic language across his entire career (1941–1949) using quantitative linguistic methods, covering five core corpuses (Garip, Vazgeçemediğim, Destan Gibi, Karşı, and Yenisi). The primary aim is to reveal the quantitative indicators of the principle of simplicity advocated by the Garip Movement over time, and to determine how this principle relates to thematic condensation. The methodology relies on applying advanced linguistic metrics to the corpora, including word frequency, Type-Token Ratio (TTR), Average Sentence Length (ASL), Token/Type counts, and Tokun/Type ratios. The longitudinal analysis of the expanded corpus allowed for both the statistical testing of differences across periods and the detailed examination of the continuity of stylistic evolution, utilizing the rich data set obtained through the integration of three new corpuses. The findings indicate that the principle of simplicity was maintained despite fluctuations in ASL (e.g., ASL: 3,08 → 4,14 → 3,49). The jump to 4.14 during the Destan Gibi period suggests a temporary relaxation of the principle for narrative experimentation. However, the most critical finding of the article is the radical decrease in TTR and the resulting Stage of Thematic Condensation. Following an initial enrichment phase (D1–D2: 70,9% → 79,3%), the TTR dropped to its career-low of 68.15 in the Karşı period. This quantitative decrease, also signaled by the change in diversity metrics like the Token/Type ratio (Lexical Density), proves that the poet consciously shifted his simple vocabulary into a Condensation Stage to express deep themes such as social criticism and existential questioning “We’re Living for Free” [“Bedava Yaşıyoruz”], “I’m Listening to Istanbul” [“İstanbul’u Dinliyorum”) using intense, repetitive patterns. These results demonstrate that Orhan Veli’s style is not static but a dynamic structure that consciously manages quantitative tools for thematic deepening, providing numerical support for the poet's artistic mastery at the end of his career.
Keywords: Orhan Veli Kanık, nicel stilometrik analiz, boylamsal analiz, Tür-Belirteç Oranı (TTR), Ortalama Cümle Uzunluğu (ASL), stilistik evrim, Belirteç/Tür sayıları, Türk şiiri.
APA 7th edition
Gecgel, H. (2025). Quantitative Stylometric Analysis of Orhan Veli Kanık’s Poetry: Lexical Diversity and Thematic Condensation. International Journal of Language and Education Research, 7(3), 239-249.
Harvard
Gecgel, H. (2025). Quantitative Stylometric Analysis of Orhan Veli Kanık’s Poetry: Lexical Diversity and Thematic Condensation. International Journal of Language and Education Research, 7(3), pp. 239-249.
Chicago 16th edition
Gecgel, Hulusi (2025). "Quantitative Stylometric Analysis of Orhan Veli Kanık’s Poetry: Lexical Diversity and Thematic Condensation". International Journal of Language and Education Research 7 (3):239-249.
Antakyalı, B. (2022). The expression style in Orhan Veli, the poet destroying tradition. RumeliDE Dil ve Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi.
Bolat, S. (2001). Garip şiirinden günümüze kalanlar [What remains from Garip poetry today]. Ana Dili, 20, 90–93.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Doğan, M. C. (2023). Garip şiiri ve Yaprak dergisi etrafında gelişen poetika [Garip poetry and the poetics developed around Yaprak magazine]. Türk Dili, (984), 230–251.
Doğan, M. H. (2001). Yüzyılın Türk şiiri (1900–2000), Cilt 1 [Turkish poetry of the century (1900–2000), Volume 1]. Yapı Kredi Yayınları.
Geçgel, H. (2022). Cumhuriyet dönemi Türk edebiyatı [Turkish literature in the Republican era]. Çanakkale Kitaplığı.
Gries, S. Th. (2013). Statistics for linguistics with R: A practical introduction (2nd ed.). De Gruyter Mouton.
Kanık, O. V. (2021). Bütün şiirleri (N. Tonga ve T. Yıldırım, Haz.) [All poems]. (N. Tonga & T. Yıldırım, Eds.). Kırmızı Kedi Yayınevi.
Kanık, O. V., Anday, M. C., & Horozcu, O. R. (1941). Garip (Şiir hakkında düşünceler bölümü) [Garip (Section on thoughts about poetry)]. Resimli Ay Matbaası.
Kuzu, F. (2021). Garip şiirinin dil özellikleri üzerine genel bir değerlendirme [A general evaluation on the linguistic features of Garip poetry]. International Journal of Current Approaches in Language, Education and Social Sciences, 3(2), 174–186. https://doi.org/10.35452/caless.2021.9
Kuzu, F. (2022a). A semiotic analysis of three poems written by Orhan Veli Kanık in 1945. Vestnik Philology, 53(2), 226–241.
Kuzu, F. (2022b). A semiotic perspective to Orhan Veli Kanık’s poem ‘The folk songs of the roads’. Vestnik Philology, 58, 226–235.
Kuzu, F. (2022c). General features of Garip poetry in Turkish literature of the Republic period. Transcarpathian Philological Studies, 25(2), 154–167. https://doi.org/10.32782/tps2663.4880/2022.25.2.28
Mumcu Ay, Y. (2009). Türk şiirinde Garip hareketi [The Garip movement in Turkish poetry]. Turkish Studies, 4(1–II), 1227–1276.
Sazyek, H. (1996). Cumhuriyet dönemi Türk şiirinde Garip hareketi [The Garip movement in Turkish poetry in the Republican era]. Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları.
VERBI Software GmbH. (2024). MAXQDA 24 [Computer software]. VERBI Software.
Yılmaz, A. (2010). Orhan Veli’de “Kaçış.” [“Escape” in Orhan Veli]. Gaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences, 10, 257–279.
