Nomenclature is not subject to a specific rule. However, one can make determinations about nomenclature by looking at the structure of languages, historical and geographical conditions, the cultural status of people, as well as the way they perceive the world. People's interests and needs change over time. Such change results in different ways of naming of the same word in a language, despite being the dialects of the same language. Nomenclature, first, requires perceiving the object in nature, that is, the unknown. The senses are used for perceiving. However, the utilization of the senses may vary in every language-in fact, in different dialects of the same language. In this study, based on these differences, we discussed the nomenclature forms of the word “woodpecker” in contemporary Turkish dialects. Initial parts of our study offer information about naming, senses, perception, and onomatopoeic words. Then, accessible dictionaries of each dialect were screened in order to identify the nomenclature in Turkish dialects. In addition to the nomenclatures in the written language, the unique nomenclatures used in the specific dialects are also included in the study. The method used in creating the identified nomenclatures was determined. Before the conclusion part of the study, the nomenclatures used in the written language are given in a single table. The table below shows whether the nomenclatures are created by “sight”, “hearing sense”, “appearance”, “according to main activity”, “according to the habitat”, or “based on reflection sound” or not. Thus, a collective overview of woodpecker nomenclatures in Turkish dialects was provided, and the methods used were revealed. This study aimed to determine the methods used while naming the woodpecker based on their frequency of use.

Woodpecker, nomenclature, perception, senses, onomatopoeic sound.