TOJNED - Volume 15 - Issue 4 - October 2025
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PROVERB, IDIOM, AND SET PHRASE USAGE IN TURKISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEXTBOOKS Kemal BAÅž, Mehmet Ä°ÄžNECÄ°OÄžLU
Abstract:
This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the use of proverbs, idioms, and set phrases in Turkish as a Foreign Language (TFL) textbooks. The main objective of the study is to determine the place of these vocabulary elements, which are fundamental elements of cultural transfer and communicative competence in language learning, in the existing materials.3 The research examined Gazi Turkish for Foreigners, Istanbul Turkish for Foreigners, and Yunus Emre Institute Seven Climates Turkish textbooks at different language proficiency levels (A1-A2, B1-B2, C1) using the document analysis method.
The findings reveal that idioms and set phrases appear with a certain frequency in the textbooks examined, but proverbs are almost non-existent, especially at basic levels, and remain quite limited even at advanced levels. This situation points to a potential systemic deficiency in YFL curriculum design. Although proverbs are fundamental elements reflecting a nation's culture, wisdom, and worldview, this obvious deficiency in textbooks may negatively affect the processes of foreign language learners' deep penetration into Turkish culture and development of their pragmatic competence. Students may face the risk of communicating in a culturally irrelevant or inappropriate manner, even if they can use grammatically correct expressions.
