Publisher's Synopsis
In this book, Ildikó Bellér-Hann presents a transcription, translation, and analysis of the Tarikh-i Khata'i, or, the "History of Cathay." Written in a little-known Turkic language referred to by scholars as "Türk 'Acämi," the Tarikh-i Khata'i serves as an excellent source for linguistic study. Bellér-Hann expertly dissects the language of this manuscript in order to argue that its linguistic features represent a predecessor of modern Azerbaijani Turkic. Beyond the extensive linguistic analysis, Bellér-Hann also provides the reader with succinct historiography of the manuscript. This work is an essential source for any reader interested in Turkic and Persian languages and history.