Uncle Law in the Origins of Culture / Kültürün Kökenlerinde Dayı Hukuku

Abstract

A person wants to have a sense of belonging and a sense of origin within the cultural structure in which they are located. Relatives play a significant role in such a framework. Especially in primitive societies, the uncle occupies a privileged position and a protective role that is different from other relatives. In maternal societies where the father only plays a fertilizing role, the uncle is responsible as a first-degree relative and is also an appointed heir. Uncle law emerged due to such ties within the family. The formation of a family institution in the developing society over time and the decrease of the influence of the father authority on the child led to a stronger status of his uncle to dissolve. At this point, uncle-father tension emerged. With the full acceptance of the paternal authority in society, over time, the value of the uncle’s social role began to decline. However, the uncle, who plays a strong role in the origins of culture, still has important traces in cultural memory. The change and transformation of the uncle law from the matrilineal society to the paternal society will be explained, its traces in Turkish culture will be defined and explained through stereotypes, narratives and folk practices. The folk law at the background of the word uncle which takes place in many cultural elements will be revealed.

Keywords

• turkish folk law
• uncle law
• turkish culture
• proverbs
• idioms