International Journal of Language Academy, cilt.9, sa.4, ss.207-221, 2021 (Hakemli Dergi)
Pragmatics, which examines the language use of individuals in different social contexts, focuses on
utterances produced within the framework of context and intent. As a field of pragmatics, speech acts
is a concept used to explain the actions we perform through language. Austin and Searle, in Speech
Act Theory, emphasized the nature of language as a social act, such as begging, apologizing and
rejecting, which we perform through speaking. It is important for the social acceptance of the individual
that the act of refusal, which expresses the negative response to requests, requests or
recommendations, is carried out with appropriate linguistic performance. The realization of the act of
refusal, which may pose a risk in protecting one's social identity, with various strategies is possible
with the development of pragmatic awareness and these skills. The limited participation of bilingual
or multilingual Turkish children with limited linguistic experience in different social contexts
constitutes an obstacle for pragmatic development to reach the desired level. In this sense, it is
important that the textbooks used in the mother tongue education of bilingual children are prepared
in a way that supports pragmatic development. In this study, it is aimed to describe the role of Turkish
and Turkish Culture textbooks used in language education of Turkish students living abroad in
supporting pragmatic development in terms of the frequency and diversity of the use of rejection
strategies. Document analysis method was used in the study. It was determined that seven different
rejection strategies were used in the examined textbooks, that the determined rejection s trategies did
not differ according to language levels, and that there were no activities aimed at improving pragmatic
skills. Textbooks and materials used in the Turkish education of Turkish children living abroad should
be planned in a way that will support pragmatic development.