A comparative study of formulaic expressions in textbooks of Turkish as a foreign language

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine, in a comparative way, formulaic expressions used in textbooks of Turkish as a foreign language and to determine in which contexts and how often they are included in these textbooks. Survey model was used to obtain data from three textbooks of Turkish as a foreign language (İstanbul A1-A2, İzmir A1-A2 ve Yeni Hitit A1-A2). Formulaic expressions in these books were collected then analyzed in terms of their structural, functional, semantic and contextual features. 193 expressions that met criteria of being formulaic expressions were determined as sub-categories in the textbooks and workbooks and linked to 21 speech acts that were grouped as main categories. Results showed that textbooks may have difficulties in providing a balanced representation of interrelated formulaic expressions, a number of formulaic expressions cannot be included in textbooks although they are frequently used in everyday life and informational contents about speech acts and formulaic expressions in textbooks can be represented being carried into workbooks but they are not reinforced as they are less used in workbooks. Based on these results, suggestions were made both for authors of future textbooks and workbooks of Turkish as a foreign language and authors of future studies concerning formulaic expressions and Turkish as a foreign language.