Proto-Turkic: *kele-
Meaning: 1 to speak 2 talk, conversation
Russian meaning: 1 говорить 2 речь, слово
Old Turkic: kele-čü 2
Turkish: dial. keleǯi 2
Chuvash: kala- 1
Kirghiz: keleč-söz 2
Comments: VEWT 248, ЭСТЯ 5, 32-33, EDT 716 (Clauson considers the word to be a foreign loan which is dubious, see Clark 1977, 136-138). It is also worth mentioning Tur. kelime, Az. kälmä 'word', Turkm. keleme 'sacred words of Qur'an pronounced for protection' - usually regarded as Arabisms, but with some peculiarities (front vocalism, final -e) that could actually indicate Turkic origin, with a secondary merger with the Arabic loan.
