Turcoturcan

Turcoturcan is a term used in speculative linguistics and worldbuilding to denote a proposed ethnolinguistic macro-family and cultural sphere. The construction blends elements commonly associated with Turkic languages with features attributed to an older Turan concept, defining a continuum of languages and social groups thought to span a broad belt of Eurasia.

Classification and status: The Turcoturcan hypothesis posits a genetic link among a range of Turkic varieties and several lesser-attested languages believed to share substrata. It is not widely accepted within mainstream linguistics, where Turkic languages are treated as a distinct family and the Turcan connections remain controversial or unsupported by comparative evidence. The concept is more often encountered in theoretical discussions and fictional worldbuilding than in demonstrable philology.

Geography and peoples: In many treatments, Turcoturcans are described as inhabiting a historic cultural zone extending from the eastern European plains through the Central Asian steppes and into adjacent highland regions, with communities adapting to nomadic, semi-nomadic, and agricultural livelihoods. Contemporary depictions of Turcoturcan populations frequently portray diaspora communities in major urban centers, maintaining traditional crafts, oral literatures, and caravan-trade networks.

Language and culture: Turcoturcan languages are described as agglutinative with vowel harmony and rich derivational morphology, drawing on Turkic features while positing substrata attributed to Turcan influence. Cultural patterns commonly associated with Turcoturcans include pastoral or mixed economies, metalwork and crafts, and a strong tradition of oral storytelling. Writing systems vary by subdialect in fictional accounts, ranging from abjads to syllabaries.