What is proto turkic?

Proto-Turkic refers to the hypothetical common ancestor of various Turkic languages that were spoken by Turkic peoples in Central Asia, Siberia, and Western China. The study of Proto-Turkic is based on comparative linguistics and historical evidence from written sources, such as inscriptions, manuscripts, and ethnographic records.

Proto-Turkic is believed to have existed between the 4th and 8th centuries CE. It is thought to have evolved from an earlier common language known as Proto-Altaic, which also gave rise to other languages, such as Mongolic and Tungusic. Proto-Turkic was spoken by many different tribes and clans that migrated across Central Asia and established various Turkic states, such as the Gokturks, Uighurs, Khazars, and Seljuks.

The study of Proto-Turkic helps to understand the linguistic and cultural history of the Turkic peoples and their contributions to the development of civilizations in Eurasia. It also sheds light on the relationships between Turkic languages and other languages from the Altaic, Indo-European, and Uralic language families. The reconstruction of Proto-Turkic is an ongoing process that involves collaboration among linguists, historians, and anthropologists.