By İpek Serengil
A CONTRASTIVE STUDY WITH ADVICE PATTERNS IN TURKISH AND ENGLISH
In this piece of study, I will try to present a contrastive analysis of advice patterns in terms of their structural aspects, their uses in giving advises and their other major functions. My starting point will be the cultural aspects of advices. Then I will present the advice patterns structurally. In the following pages I will analyse their functions in giving advices. Finally, I will list their other uses. I aim at presenting the similarities And differences in clearest ways.
I will restate the ideas of authorities like Kari Sajavaara, Tomasz Krzeszowski, and Carol Sanders. Through this I want to underline the need to and the use of contrastive studies.
Jacek Fisiak (1980: 10) points out rightly that doubt concerning the validity and usefulness of contrastive studies “results from a number of misinterpretations and misunderstandings created by such factors as the peculiar methodological status of CS, the lack of a clear cut distinction in the past between theoretical and applied CS… and the lack of precise formulation of the different aims of theoretical CS and applied CS as well as the confusion of the relationship between CS, the psycholinguistic theory of interference and errors, and the theory of second language learning”. It seems therefore justified to pay more attention than heretofore to the interrelationship between contrastive studies and psycholinguistic processes. As it is clearly seen Contrastive Studies are useful instruments for second or foreign language learning.
I believe that in order to achieve an understanding of language acquisition, we should make contrastive analyses because the learners often tend to compare the target languages with their mother languages. Apart from the learners’ side, CA has great importance to show us the similarities and the differences between languages. Jacek Fisiak has a very simple explanation for the usefulness of CS- it gives an understanding of our misinterpretations. I want to add one thing to this in the second perspective we realize the features of our own language, thus we can find new ways to assure successful foreign language learning. Because, I believe that a competent speaker of a language who is aware of all the forms and structure, usages of his language can learn a second or foreign language far better than incompetent speakers.
I will state my ideas through out this work, however I want to pass to the contrastive analysis of advice patterns. First of all, I will give brief information about social and psychological aspects of advice.
ADVICE
Human beings have the mechanisms of judgment and they have the intelligence to solve most of their problems. We have the logic to decipher our most natural problems related to the outer world, but we may be unsuccessful in solving our psychological or personal problems. We need guidance in life; most often we are our own shepherds. Some choose religion and Holy books as their guides some choose nature and/or magic. However, most of us choose our friends to guide us. When we cannot find out the best way, when we feel stuck, a friend comes us, and start the saying “ If I were you…” Ultimate relaxation. Someone gives the keys to the answer instead of you.
In Turkish culture advices have an important place, our mothers, fathers, elder relatives always come with suggestions for our lives. This even becomes annoying and disturbing. As there are hundreds of advice sources around us, we do not need counselors. Our advices are most of the time forcing. There is a Turkish saying, which I do not know the equivalent in English: “Öğüt zamanında taze yenmemiş ekmeği başkasına bayat yedirme çabasıdır.” This is true for the disturbing, unwanted advices. There is also another truth, we need to learn others’ comments on a certain subject before making a decision, besides one day we will try to force the same piece of bread once have refused to the other people.
As human beings are social creatures, all of the cultures have certain advice patterns. In England there is an old lady advising her daughter just like an African grandmother in the middle of the desert.
I will first of all compare and contrast there most common and polite advices, after these we will skip to spoken language: in Oxford street and in Eminönü.
Use of modal verbs is the most common advice patterns. These modals have other uses except for giving advice. They state probability, possibility, ability, etc. Advice modals precede main verbs. There is, of course a degree of politeness, which is the same with other uses. We will start with the politest ones.
Gina: I cannot sleep, because my roommate always comes very late and she listens to music at late hours!
Jane: You might talk to her.
Gina: Jane, I talked to Liz. She said that she has to work till late hours to make money and music relaxes her.
Jane: You may tell her that you are terribly unhappy. You may explain your reasons.
Gina: She says she understands me, but she has no other choice! Now, What can I do? Tell me!
Jane: You can split days. She can listen to music at weekends, and respect your sleep during the week.
Gina: Jane your advice was really very logical, but there is a problem. Liz does not work at weekends, so there is no problem she comes early and studies. But at weekdays she is at work, and she works late as I said.
Jane: Gina you had better make her understand your situation. What kind of a person she is? Yes, You had better tell her that you cannot go on like this!
Gina: Hey Jane! I am sorry, but I need your advice again. There is no change, she promised that she would be more careful, well, she still comes late and checks if I am sleeping then turns on the radio.
Jane: Look Gina, You should go to the dormitory office and tell them everything. As you cannot solve it, let them create a good solution for you.
Gina: Oooh! Jane, now what will I do? Liz told the manager that I am not a friendly person, and I am lying to them. She said that she does not like music!
Jane: Damn it! Now, it seems that she declared war against you. You must disturb her. Do the things she hates most!
Gina: (whispering) Liz hates television shows and blues. I keep the TV open till morning and I play blues records all night long also I sing country songs. She became mad, and I have headache and a sore throat. I cannot go on like this for another week. I am dying.
Jane: I am really very … ultimately… extremely angry now. Look here. Listen. If I were you I would kill her!
The first six advice patterns are listed according to the degree of politeness. The listing is of course due to the probabilities they occur ( only the modal verbs- if I were you pattern is excluded).
At first the problem seemed minor and many logical getaways were suggested. However, in the seventh and last one there comes an empathy bridge between the speakers. The hearer (Jane) really feels the same or even more angry than the speaker (Gina).
If I were is a most frequently used advice pattern between friends. There is empathy, some shared feelings. You want the best for your friend.
The first three modals are used among people who are not so close to each other, the last three are used among pals.
Besides these there are command type advices. Sometimes the problem is so annoying that we cannot help commanding the person who just wants advice.
Gina: Look Jane! I am desperate; Liz won’t go. I tried every possible way.
Jane: Hey, what happened to your face? You look awful; did you fall down the stairs or something?
Gina: Liz is very strong, she hit me with her little but noisy radio and she fisted me last night. (in tears, crying and murmuring)
Jane: What! Go and beat her to death!
It is time to leave the extremes aside and see if there is another advice pattern. There is not any other pattern, but there may be additions to the modals to create effectiveness.
Liz: Linda, I have serious problems with my roommate, she was such a nice person, but she suddenly changed. You know we have been together for two months, she was fine for the first two weeks then she changed a lot.
Linda: I see. I think you should talk to her, and tell what you feel.
OR
Linda: I see. I guess you can solve it at lunch.
OR
Linda: I see. In my opinion she has got a personal problem and this affects you both.
OR
Linda: I see. According to me there is nothing serious.
Etc.
After seeing almost all the patterns of advice in English, we will analyze the advice patterns in Turkish. Our subject materials are selected from a Turkish language book and from daily speech.
Our first material is “Tavsiyeler” from Turkish grammar book( Haluk Şenes; 1992: p. 45)
In Turkish language there is only one-way of giving advice: “meli- malı/ ebilmek-abilmek/ ersin arsın” stand for all of the modal verbs listed above. The degree of politeness is assured through some helping phrases. There are not clear distinctions between these three forms. The examples will clarify the points more.
Examples:
I
Özkan: Sedat, ben telefonumu kırdım ve babama söyleyemedim. Ne yapacağım şimdi?
Sedat : Üzülme, boşver! Sakin bir anını bulup durumu açıklarsın. Yapılacak bir şey yok.
II
İsmail: Bir türlü ders çalışamıyorum. Sanırım bu sefer gerçekten aşık oldum. Şebnem’den başka bir şey düşünemiyorum.
Ercan: Eğer durum bu kadar ciddiyse, bir yolunu bulup açıklamalısın.
III
Ferda: Kızgın bir anımda Sibel hakkında olumsuz konuştum. Bu da onun kulağına gitmiş. Ne yapsam da kendimi affettirsem.
Merve: Onunla açık açık konuşabilirsin, gerekirse özür dileyebilirsin.
There is not politenes degree but “meli-malı” is stronger than “abilmek-ebilmek”. The last one “arsın-ersin” is quite relaxing but the least strong advice.
2. Commands – Emir tipi tavsiyeler
Just like in English, there are command type advice patterns in Turkish. These are used only by very close friends, these are highly informal.
Examples:
I
Sibel: Bu sefer artık Ferda çok oldu. Benim hakkımda ileri geri konuşuyor. Çok üzülüyorum. Ne yapmam gerek Kemoş.
Kemal: Git ve yüzüne herşeyi açıkça söyle canım.
II
Mrs. Zeren: Müdür Bey listeleri bulamıyorum, her yere baktım, ne yapacağım ben şimdi.
Mr. Kırbaş: Yahu yenisini hazırla!
3. “Yerinde olsam”
This one has the same meaning and connotations with “ If I were you…” It almost has the same function and meaning with its English equivalent.
Examples:
I
Zeynep: Sınava daha çalışmadım, ama hafta sonu okulun pikniğine de gitmeyi çok istiyorum.
Nurcan: Yerinde olsam pikniğe giderdim, çünkü matematiğin zaten çok iyi.
II
Mr. Elma: Bandırma’daki arsamı sattım, büyük para geçti elime ama nasıl değerlendireceğimi bilemiyorum. Sen ne dersin?
Mr. Yılmaz: Yerinde olsam bankaya günlük repoya yatırırdım, borsanın durumu şaibeli.
All the possible advice patterns in Turkish and English are given above. Now the conclusions that may be drawn will be listed through Carol Sander’s article related to the recent developments in CA and T.P. Krzeszowski’s article on CA in a new dimension.
CONCLUSION
e.g.
Önce geniş bahçeden içeriye girersin, karşına hanın yosunlu nemli duvarları çıkar, aşçı bir tavuğu kovalıyor olabilir akşam yemeği niyetine… (Simple Present function)
Their lights are on, they must be at home.
e.g.
Onunla konuşmalısın!
You should talk to him!
e.g.
Bence, doktora görünmelisin.
I think you should see the doctor.
e.g.
There is difference between “should” and “may” in terms of formality, however there is no such thing in Turkish.
As a last resource I want to include T. P. Krzeszowski’s remarks on Contrastive Analysis. Traditional contrastive analyses are all conducted along the horizontal dimensions necessarily involved in comparing an element or a class of elements in L1 with an equivalent element or a class of elements in L2 and – or vice versa. ( This is more or less what I tried to do) The traditional luggage of contrastive Analysis must, therefore, contain a set of statements motivating the movement from a specific element in L1 to a specific element in L2. These statements must be based on semantic considerations associated with the notion of equivalence (Halliday et al, 1964; Catford, 1965: Krzeszowski, 1967).
In this work I aimed at showing or actually seeing the equivalence between advice patterns, this was the most entertaining study I completed until now. I thought a lot and I collected the materials when I was on duty at school, I listened to what my students talked to each other. I think I reached my aim and pointed out the similarities and the very few differences between the two languages.
References:
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