The Turkic Stratigraphy of Salar: An Oghuz in Chagatay Clothes?

Abstract

The classification of Salar entails several Turkic and non-Turkic layers. Salar was once assigned to the Southeastern branch of the Turkic family (e.g. by Poppe 1953). This article indicates that Salar is firmly of the Southwestern (Oghuz) branch, but nonetheless displays Old Turkic. Due to areal contact, Salar also has some (presumably more recent) Southeastern features, but its lack of overall resemblance to Uyghur (the closest Southeastern Turkic neighbor) is striking.