Research Article

Turkish Preschool Children’s Pragmatic Competence on Apologies: The Influence of Sociolinguistic Factors and Contextual Variables

Volume: 32 Number: 3 December 31, 2021
TR EN

Turkish Preschool Children’s Pragmatic Competence on Apologies: The Influence of Sociolinguistic Factors and Contextual Variables

Abstract

This study explores Turkish preschool children’s pragmatic competence with regard to their apology realization patterns. Children’s meta-pragmatic knowledge of apologies was tested and two different age groups (4;0-4;11 and 5;0-6;0) (N=100) were compared to trace possible developmental trends with increasing age in terms of complexity, variety and type of strategies they utilized. Additionally, all the children were grouped according to gender in order to detect the potential effect of this factor on children’s apologizing behaviors. Finally, the range of children’s socio-pragmatic skills was evidenced by tracing their sensitivity in their strategy usage to the severity of the offense as a contextual variable which has a potential effect on speakers’ manner of apologizing. Eight offence scenarios were designed and implemented in the form of Oral Discourse Completion Task (ODCT). The responses were transcribed and phrases for apologizing were classified into categories. The results indicated similarities and differences when compared to adult-usage and children’s tendencies in other languages.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

TÜBİTAK

Thanks

This study has beensupportedbyTUBİTAK’s (The Scientific and Technological ReseacrhCouncil of Turkey) scholarship program for graduate students.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

-

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Hatice Sofu
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 31, 2021

Submission Date

June 18, 2020

Acceptance Date

December 30, 2021

Published in Issue

Year 2021 Volume: 32 Number: 3

APA
Zerey, Ö. G., & Sofu, H. (2021). Turkish Preschool Children’s Pragmatic Competence on Apologies: The Influence of Sociolinguistic Factors and Contextual Variables. Dilbilim Araştırmaları Dergisi, 32(3), 17-42. https://doi.org/10.18492/dad.754467