dönütürme

Dönütürme is a term used in Turkish linguistics and discourse studies to describe a rhetorical or argumentative maneuver in which a prior assertion or assumed position is turned back on itself within a discourse. The core idea is to turn or reverse the frame of reference of a proposition in order to reveal consequences, contradictions, or new interpretive angles, often producing irony or critical distance.

Etymology and usage reflect that the word combines dön- “to turn” with -ütürme, a nominalizing suffix that forms nouns indicating process or action. The term is not widely standardized in dictionaries, and its precise definition varies across authors and contexts. In some discussions, dönütürme refers to echoic or quotation-like repetition of a statement in a different context to foreground its implications. In other readings, it denotes the deliberate reversal of the polarity or stance of a claim, effectively flipping it to challenge its premises. The technique can operate at the level of syntax, semantics, or discourse organization and is often associated with critical or ironic styles.

Contexts of use are primarily in niche Turkish-language discussions within rhetoric, stylistics, and discourse analysis. Dönütürme remains a loosely defined or contested notion rather than a settled category in mainstream stylistics. Its interpretation tends to depend on the analytic framework and the particular text being examined.

See also: rhetoric, discourse analysis, echoic repetition, irony, quotation.