This study explores the intricate system of nominal compounds in Turkish, showcasing the language's vast array of compound forms, from simple to complex constructions. The diversity in compounds is influenced not only by their internal complexity but also by the various types of complements that the head noun can accommodate. While linguistic theory often posits that verbs are lexically coded for multiple arguments and that nominalized nouns inherit arguments, this book argues against that perspective for Turkish. It demonstrates that the extensive range of complement patterns can be explained by a unified concept that encompasses noun phrases, clauses, and sentences. This approach reveals that the apparent variety of constructions is a result of the morphological process of compounding rather than syntactic analysis. Additionally, the study addresses why Turkish possesses such a highly productive compound formation system, which seemingly has no limits in complexity and expressibility, and examines its relationship to theoretical alternatives like adjectivization. Through this analysis, the book contributes to a deeper understanding of the unique characteristics of Turkish nominal compounds.
