This study, which aims to examine Turkish proverbs in terms of their elements of oral communication, was conducted using a qualitative research method. The dataset of the study consists of Ömer Asım Aksoy's "Dictionary of Proverbs" and Metin Yurtbaşı's "Classified Turkish Proverbs". This study, carried out with the idea of creating a panorama of the place of oral communication culture in Turkish proverbs, employed the documentary research method as a data collection tool, and content analysis was used in the data analysis. As a result of the research, 398 proverbs related to oral communication skills were identified and classified under 11 themes and 28 categories. Based on the results obtained in the study, it was determined that the most emphasized themes in proverbs were "speaking consistently" (16%), "recognizing the power of discourse" (15%), and "speaking moderately" (12%); however, the categories of "not lying", "the impact of words", and "speaking appropriately and at the right time" were also prominent. In this context, the study reveals that, in the broadest sense, verbal communication in Turkish proverbs is seen as a set of skills and a moral responsibility.
Proverbs, communication, speaking, listening.