söylence

Söylence is a Turkish term for a traditional narrative that is transmitted orally and concerns origins, deities or heroes, and other supernatural beings. These stories belong to folklore and are passed down through generations within communities. Söylenceler may explain natural phenomena, convey social values, justify customs, or simply entertain listeners. The term is often used to describe narratives found in rural and urban Turkish oral traditions alike.

Etymologically, söylence derives from söylemek, meaning “to tell.” In Turkish usage, its boundaries with mit (myth), efsane (legend), and masal (fairy tale) are fluid; some contexts treat söylence as a broad label for orally transmitted narratives, while others reserve it for tales with local or etiological content.

Motifs commonly include origin stories, heroic feats, spirits, and explanations of landscapes or weather. Many söylences are anchored to a particular place or community and may be performed as spoken word, song, or a combination. They often function to transmit norms, reinforce identity, or preserve memory of ancestors and sacred sites. Variation arises from teller, region, and audience.

Since the 19th century, folklorists have collected söylences as part of ethnographic and linguistic studies. Comparative work across Turkic and Anatolian cultures reveals shared motifs and regional differences. In modern usage, the term may also appear in discussions of urban legends and contemporary myth-making, though scholarly distinctions should be clarified.