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to close “linguistic proximity” (Lems et al., 2010) or ‘close genetic relationship’
(Bahtina & ten Thije forthcoming).
Similarly, studies on RM also consider ‘linguistic proximity’ as an
important precondition to achieve mutual understanding. However, Rehbein et al.
(2012) acknowledge that even though
RM or
LaRa has been overwhelmingly
utilized as a language mode across the globe, “it has been largely ignored or
suppressed as a result of homogenizing language policies of European nation-
states in the 19
th
and 20
th
centuries” (p. 249). According to Beerkens, (2010)
“based on the idea that each interactant speaks his/her mother tongue, and has
enough receptive competences of the other’s mother language to understand what
is being said” (p. 11). With this definition Beerkens highlights having ‘enough
receptive competence’ in the other languages as another precondition. In addition
to these, Schüppert & Gooskens (2012) suggested that passive linguistic and
extra-linguistic knowledge of the recipients are actively in use while mutual
intelligibility is established between the interlocutor(s).
More recently, the mutual intelligibility of Turkic languages in Central
Asia and
Oghuz language group or branch of Turkic languages spoken in
Caucasus, Thrace and Anatolia have been under investigation. However it would
not be wrong to state that there is a relatively small body of research dealing with
LaRa within or between the aforementioned Turkic languages or dialects.
1.2.
Statement of Purpose
The main purpose of the study is to investigate the forms of interjections
signaling understanding of the interlocutors in an Azerbaijani-Turkish Lingua
Receptiva (LaRa) communication.
Secondly, the functional contribution of the communication is to be
investigated to interlocutors’
understanding during LaRa.
6
1.3.
Research Questions
Based on the studies conducted upon Lingua Receptiva
(LaRa) and/or
Receptive Multilingualism
(RM) among Turkic languages and in conformity with
the
scope outlined above, this study aims at answering following questions.
1.
What forms of interjections are used in an ‘Azerbaijani-Turkish lingua
receptiva’ language mode to signal understanding?
1.1.
What forms of interjections are used by Turkish native speakers in an
‘Azerbaijani-Turkish lingua receptiva’ language mode?
1.2.
What forms of interjections are used by Azerbaijani native speakers in an
‘Azerbaijani-Turkish lingua receptiva’ language mode?
2.
What are the functions the interjections in ‘Azerbaijani-Turkish lingua
receptiva’ language mode?
2.1.
What are the functions of Turkish interjections in ‘Azerbaijani-Turkish
lingua receptiva’ language mode?
2.2.
What are the functions of Azerbaijani interjections in ‘Azerbaijani-
Turkish lingua receptiva’ language mode?
1.4.
Significance of the Study
As outlined above, there are various language modes that are used in the
multicultural and multilingual world which are
Lingua Franca Regional Lingua
Franca, Languages of Regional Communication,
Code-Switching and
Receptive
Multilingualism or
Lingua Receptiva.
Discounting the fact that there are studies conducted upon LaRa
communication among Turkic languages by Tekin (1978), Ercilasun (1994) and
Sağın-Şimşek & König (2012), it can be stated
that the same language mode, to be
exact,
LaRa, within/between the branches of Turkic languages has not been
deeply investigated. Therefore, this study investigating the uses, types and