A Database of Middle Turkic

Project code: DTCH-ANN-2026-P001

A Database of Middle Turkic is an open-access research database that aims to present sources belonging to the historical Turkic written languages within the scope of Middle Turkic in digital form, together with transcription and translation. Developed in connection with the Department of Linguistics and Philology at Uppsala University, the database approaches Middle Turkic as an umbrella term covering the literary and written languages used across a wide Eurasian geography from the thirteenth century to the early modern period. This framework includes written languages such as Khwarezmian Turkic, Chagatai, Armeno-Kipchak, Middle Karaim, Mamluk Turkic, Volga Turkic, Cuman, Volga Bulgar, Ottoman, Middle Azeri, and Middle Turkmen.

The database aims to provide comprehensive digital editions of Middle Turkic sources. Texts from manuscript sources are presented together with transcription and translation within a shared descriptive model; the texts are encoded in EpiDoc-XML and made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

The database was initiated with Middle Karaim sources through the contribution of the KaraimBIBLE research project. The first source made available is a 1720 Karaim translation of the Torah and Haftarah. In its further stages, the project aims to include sources belonging to other literary and written languages within the scope of Middle Turkic.

The project team consists of researchers and developers working in Turcology, Karaim studies, historical linguistics, philology, and information technology. The team includes Michał Németh, László Károly, Mohsen Emami, Dorota Cegiołka, Zsuzsanna Johan, Anna Sulimowicz-Keruth, Adam Dubiński, Anita András, Murat Işık, and Nikolina Milioni. The institutional point of connection is the Department of Linguistics and Philology at Uppsala University.

Project page: A Database of Middle Turkic — https://middleturkic.lingfil.uu.se/