Reflections on the term 'stem' based on Turkish grammar resources in Turkey

This study analyzed issues surrounding the concept of "stem" in Turkish linguistics. It began by establishing a general framework based on existing definitions of "root" and "stem" in the literature. Subsequently, it analyzed the treatment and examples of "stem" presented in Turkish grammar books published from 1940 to the present. The analysis revealed inconsistencies in the scope and definition of "stem," with terms like "root," "base," "derived root," "closed stem" and "closed form unit" often used interchangeably in examples. These inconsistencies stem not only from varying terminological preferences but also from the challenge of handling words derived from roots that do not exist independently. While some researchers propose adopting the term "base" to address these limitations, modern linguists increasingly favor terms like "form unit" and "word unit."