Crosslinguistic Research

Crosslinguistic and crosscultural approaches to pragmatic development

“…More recently, linguistic systems that encode non-spatial semantic distinctions have come to the attention of linguistic typologists (Diessel, 2006). Although work on the acquisition of such systems is rare (Küntay, 2012), Küntay and Özyürek (2006) found that the three-way demonstrative system (bu, şu, and o) of Turkish is not used appropriately by 4-and 6-year-olds. Although distance was appropriately taken into account in the children's distinctive use of pronouns, the function of şu as a way to invite the fresh attention of the addressee to a referent was not used in adult-like fashion.…”

“…Crosslinguistic methodology has been mostly used to study morphosyntactic and semantic development (Stoll, 2009), but the comparative approach is promising for studying pragmatic development as well (Küntay, 2012). To develop our theories of language development and to understand how socializing of children to use language makes its impact on this learning, we need to take into account how differently context is represented and displayed in specific linguistic and cultural practices, and how contextual features affect children's learning of language.…”

Turkey's Response to Sex Trafficking of Migrant Women: Is It Efficient Enough?

“…Yet it is possible to argue that Turkey's prostitution regime regulated by the 1961 Regulation which is more than half a century old no longer reflects the realities of contemporary demand for prostitution in Turkey (Kuntay and Cokar, 2007). First of all, with the invention of mobile phones scheduling a meeting with a prostitute has become very easy, and the necessity for the existence of state-run brothels has declined (Erder and Kaska, 2003: 47;Ayata et al, 2008).…”