1 Turkish Riddles Bilmeceler Prepared by Mukades Sahin

1 Turkish Riddles Bilmeceler Prepared by Mukades Sahin A Deep Approach to Turkish Teaching and Learning Wisconsin Center for Education Research, University of Wisconsin. Madison

hat is, t , e m a g d as a e w e i v n e e ng is a b i l s d a. d i h R y : e s k t n Tur lkloris o f t s o m Riddling i y s, ” or b u , l y u t i m v i i t t s c l a a re ellectu t n i , y of as a leisu d t l i i v i t m c a a s i e dling nt gam e c o n n i game; rid d re an u p a s i g n p. 1) ( “Riddli ”. n e r d l i d ch women an 3 The view w hich consid 2 ers riddling leisure time as a activity is b a s ed on resea made in lar ge cities an rch d o bservations riddling in th of e more indu s t rially develo part of socie ped ty. (p. 1) h society is is rk u T re o m e th r] [Howeve ling loses its d d ri re o m e th , d e moderniz elops into a v e d d n a ty ie c o s e role in th ) mere pastime. (p. 1 2 4 5

Riddling pla yed a big ro le in traditio Turkish soc nal iety. People of the countryside told riddles when they engaged in group labor (imece), su ginning cott ch as on, picking h azelnuts, an cracking wa d lnuts. . oto I. burun, ph a r a K , g erin 0 Druc 201 ath Women g rted o p e r dles y, d i s r l a l e e t k who wor e s l e p te k o a a r t Pe m n “ e onc dling c d i r o t t a th them ) s p l e and h ergy. ” (p. 2 n their e Making bread, 3 Karaburun, pho to I. Druc 2010

as a real w g lin d d ri l a n io it d a tr , y In Turke ams, and a contest between two te e losers. penalty was levied on th . 6 8 7 9 4 The side which fa iled to solve the gi offer som ven riddle would ething re al or symbolic value to the winners, such as tea, a dinner pa rty or the key to heaven.

portant. im ry e v re a s le d d ri s e d folk stori s based on In Turkish folktales an ie lt a n e p d n a s rd a w genuine re he heroes T Characters are given. le d d ri e th to r e w s correct an omen of their ability to find the w y rr a m r o s e liv ir e n save th ficult riddle. if d of Turkish folktales ca ry e v a g n ri e w s n a y correctly higher social status b. Photo I. Druc 2009 5

Riddling was an important part of social life in Istanbul as late as 20 th century. In coffee houses in Istanbul, men competed against each other in their riddle telling abilities in front of a sizeable audience. . 10 I. Photo They were judged by their speed, effectiveness, and courage. These contests would take place during the month of Ramadan, and last until the time of early morning meal of Ramadan, a. k. a. sahur. 009 Druc 2 6

In the next couple slides, you will find a number of Turkish riddles. You can. - read them to familiarize yourself with this literary canon, - listen to the audio files to practice pronunciation, or - tease your brain to guess the answers to the riddles (they are given in slide 10). Photo, I. Druc, 2008 7

il ğ e d t a var, u ğ u r y Ku ğil e d ş u k ar, Dudağa değer ucu v ı d a n Ka Ne getirdin a bacı. Kuruyan ağızların Hepsi sana duacı Dum a İstes nı tüte r e gid Balı k de er ğild Den ir izde yüze r ok, y a d ’ a Avrup k, o y ç i h Asya’da a bir tane, d ’ a ır k i d r ı c e a h e Am n n ta ide g ç ü a c e c d a ’ H ır d ı c a Türkiye u d n Gitmeye mez r e v k a d bu r i r e v l a D ıdır c a ğ a n i Mavi at Bu ney las İğne ba Ben tmaz g Terzi bi Önü ider çmez md im, o Makas kesmez e ti g i n ti d Yarım kaşık n e er der Duvara yapışık 8

(ge se r mi) o h H a e r smo n’t a bird s i ke ris t (and) t i isn’t es u b s. , h l t e i i goes (bardak) wish a ta s, but e as sh s s a e She i It h s wing s a no Its edges touch the lips (b It h ut) sh t a fish Hey (my) sister, what did e swi ) ms in a t k o you bring us? the s (n n ea B i l u e e a t n l All of the dry mouths a s o (on wh n’t s i pe) sya ich) a o e Pray for you r r u e A E h n ( e T edle do pa one in u esn't r ) k yi penetr e Av even g ( ate e in n ( T Not ) h o at is ly a ) i n a s o c i somet (A e is (Amer hree in hing) a r s e e o g t o Th rika t h a ilor ca are ) on w s e r nnot s (gökyüzü) e e a p r m s i e e y h A e ( aw or som T g th a ke m ) r i r d g u e l (an iye (T n a pi that sc thing) o k is Tür canno sors pilgrim s who don't t cut ne o e b e h o T ray (t p t s u j go, (baston) go) o , yet t s e e l h b c a bran It goes w s (kul t o o h s ith me a t ak) m I o o l b s I go t It sound ' n s like "ta t does d of tree is i p front of tap" in kin A half spoon me What 9 (that is) attached to a wall that? k) ı l a (b .

Here are examples on how riddles are used in contemporary times. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=PKFs 2 r 9 l. YCg (A blurb from an old Turkish comedy that uses riddles) http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=PKFs 2 r 9 l. YCg (A song entitled Bilmece Bildirmece (1971) by a famous singer Ajda Pekkan. ) İyi seyirler! 10

Numaralarına göre fotograflar: References 1. Yılmaz, Fevziye. Bilmece Bildirmece. İstanbul: Timaş Yayınları, 2005. 2. En Güzel Bilmeceler. İstanbul: 2011. 3. Zeka Geliştirici Bilmeceler Tekerlemeler. Ünlü Yayınevi. 4. Sümer, Mehmet Kadri. Bilmece Bildirmece. Ankara: Ünlü Yayınevi, 2007. 5. Suavi, Cüneyt. Küçük Yaştaki Adamlara Büyük Boyda Bilmeceler. İstanbul: Zafer Yayınları, 2000. 6. Oldfield, A. C. and Tochon, F. V. (2011). Türkçe ve Azeri Arasinda Köprüler Kurmak / Bridging Turkish with Azerbaijani: Music and Musicians - Azeri Folklore in the 20 th Century. Module 13 Advanced Level. Madison, WI: Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER). http: //deepapproach. wceruw. org/index. html (February 15 th, 2012). 7, 8, 9. Tunç, Y. and Tochon, F. V. (2010). Turkish Cuisine and Culture / Türk Mutfaği ve Mutfak Kültürü. Module 5, Intermediate level. Madison, WI: Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER). http: //deepapproach. wceruw. org/index. html (February 15 th, 2012). 10. February 14 th, <2012 http: //www. parkdo. com/default. asp? id=71>. Information about Turkish riddles retrieved from the following source Başgöz, İlhan. "Functions of Turkish Riddles. " Journal of the Folklore Institute Vol. 2, No. 2 (Jun. , 1965), pp. 132 -147 06 1965. February 14 th, 2012 <http: //www. jstor. org/stable/3813831>. 11