Dictionary Based Concept Mining: Yol (Road/Path) in Turkish Dictionary

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the conceptual dimensions of the word yol “road” as presented in the Turkish Dictionary published by the Turkish Language Institution and to reveal its semantic map within the context of Türkiye Turkish. Yol is not merely a means of transportation or a physical entity; it is a multilayered concept enriched with metaphorical, sociological, and historical meanings. This diversity necessitates an in-depth exploration of its cultural, historical, and social implications. Employing the method of conceptual mining in linguistics, the study seeks to interpret this multidimensional structure. The scope is limited to the 12th edition of the Turkish Dictionary published by the Turkish Language Institution. Through an analysis of yol’s various meanings, usage contexts, and fixed expressions in idioms, the research investigates the semantic diversity of this concept in the Turkish language. Conceptual mining and natural language processing -Through programs such as Python, AntConc, and Voyant Tools- techniques were applied to extract all lexical data containing yol, both as a headword and within definitions. The study explores conceptual links such as synonymy, idiomatic usage, and proverbs by transferring the relevant data into digital form. This analysis is supported by network analysis and word cloud visualization tools to represent the semantic layers of yol. Ultimately, the research aims to concretize the semantic layers and relational networks of yol in Türkiye Turkish, thereby shedding light on its role within the social and cultural structure of the language.