Lessons 16–17 · 2 lessons · S. Olim, S. Ahmedov, R. Qo‘chqorov. Literature, Grade 8: textbook-collection, Parts 1 and 2. G‘afur G‘ulom publishing-printing creative house, Tashkent, 2014 (revised third edition)
17
The tuyuq and tajnis
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 95–97
GoalExplain the four requirements of the tuyuq and the similarities and differences between tajnis and homonyms.
New words
tajnis (same-form words with different meanings) · tajnishomonym · omonimmetre (the rhythmic pattern of verse) · vaznsame-form word · shakldosh so‘z
Explanation
The tuyuq is a purely Turkic lyric genre: it does not exist in Arabic and Persian literature. It formed under the influence of Turkic oral literature and later its rules became fixed in written literature. The tuyuq has four requirements: it must have four lines; it must rhyme aaaa or aaba, as in the ruboiy; it must be in the metre, that is the rhythmic pattern, called ramali musaddasi mahzuf (or maqsur); and the rhyming words must be tajnis. At first only the first three requirements existed; the fourth came later, and after that a tuyuq without tajnis could no longer be imagined. Tajnis is the use of words with the same form and different meanings. But it is not just an ordinary homonym: homonyms are same-form words fixed in the language, while for tajnis the poet can create one-time, original same-form combinations, for example “ul Oy”, “ul joy” and “uloy”. When tajnis is used as rhyme, the repetition of the words stands in for rhyme because their meanings differ.
Worked examples
Example: in Lutfiy’s tuyuq the phrase “dog‘i bor” occurs in three senses, and “bori” in the third line creates yet another tajnis. So the poet continues the play even in the unrhymed line.
Example: in “A bird sat on the horse” and “The horse’s name was Alvon” the word “ot” has two meanings (horse and name); the language knows this as a homonym. Tajnis is the skilful playing of such words in a poem.
Class activity
Write the four requirements of the tuyuq in your notebook. Next to each mark “yes” or “no” for whether your own two-line tajnis trial for the class meets it.
Practice
1
In which literatures does the tuyuq not exist?
In Arabic and Persian literature; it is a purely Turkic genre.
2
List the four requirements of the tuyuq.
Four lines; aaaa or aaba rhyme; the ramali musaddasi mahzuf (maqsur) metre; tajnis in the rhyme.
3
How does tajnis differ from a homonym?
A homonym is a fixed same-form word of the language; in tajnis the poet may also create a one-time original same-form combination.
4
Why is tajnis so important for the tuyuq?
Because the rhyme of the tuyuq rests on tajnis and a tuyuq without it cannot be imagined.