Research Article

Pragmatic Competence and the Limits of Teaching Cultural Meaning: A Sociopragmatic Analysis of Russian From a Turkish Perspective

Volume: 10 Number: 2 October 27, 2026
TR EN

Pragmatic Competence and the Limits of Teaching Cultural Meaning: A Sociopragmatic Analysis of Russian From a Turkish Perspective

Abstract

This study examines the role of pragmatic competence in Russian as a foreign language and explores why it remains only partially accessible to explicit instruction. The study focuses on aspects of Russian pragmatics that may pose difficulties for interpretation and use for learners with a Turkish background. The analysis addresses key domains, including the relationship between linguistic structure and cultural meaning, social distance, forms of address, indirectness strategies, and discourse organization. Adopting a qualitative, theoretically grounded approach, the study draws on relevant literature on pragmatic and communicative competence and evaluates these frameworks through an interpretative analysis of Russian discourse. The findings demonstrate that pragmatic competence is inherently context-sensitive and culturally embedded. Features such as imperative and polite forms, the ‘ты / вы’ (sing. you / plur. you) distinction, and patterns of brevity and silence in discourse play a central role in shaping communicative meaning. The results further indicate that learner difficulties stem primarily from challenges in pragmatic interpretation rather than from deficiencies in linguistic knowledge. These findings highlight the importance of fostering contextual awareness rather than relying solely on rule-based instruction.

Keywords

References

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  7. Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE.
  8. Çakır, İ. (2011). “Yabancı dil öğrenme ortamlarında kültürün rolü”, Milli Eğitim Dergisi, 41(190), 248-255. https://izlik.org/JA47ZJ55BA

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Linguistics (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 27, 2026

Submission Date

April 22, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 13, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 2

APA
Şakar, R. (2026). Pragmatic Competence and the Limits of Teaching Cultural Meaning: A Sociopragmatic Analysis of Russian From a Turkish Perspective. Edebi Eleştiri Dergisi, 10(2), 588-606. https://doi.org/10.31465/eeder.1936183
AMA
1.Şakar R. Pragmatic Competence and the Limits of Teaching Cultural Meaning: A Sociopragmatic Analysis of Russian From a Turkish Perspective. EEDER. 2026;10(2):588-606. doi:10.31465/eeder.1936183
Chicago
Şakar, Reşat. 2026. “Pragmatic Competence and the Limits of Teaching Cultural Meaning: A Sociopragmatic Analysis of Russian From a Turkish Perspective”. Edebi Eleştiri Dergisi 10 (2): 588-606. https://doi.org/10.31465/eeder.1936183.
EndNote
Şakar R (October 1, 2026) Pragmatic Competence and the Limits of Teaching Cultural Meaning: A Sociopragmatic Analysis of Russian From a Turkish Perspective. Edebi Eleştiri Dergisi 10 2 588–606.
IEEE
[1]R. Şakar, “Pragmatic Competence and the Limits of Teaching Cultural Meaning: A Sociopragmatic Analysis of Russian From a Turkish Perspective”, EEDER, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 588–606, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.31465/eeder.1936183.
ISNAD
Şakar, Reşat. “Pragmatic Competence and the Limits of Teaching Cultural Meaning: A Sociopragmatic Analysis of Russian From a Turkish Perspective”. Edebi Eleştiri Dergisi 10/2 (October 1, 2026): 588-606. https://doi.org/10.31465/eeder.1936183.
JAMA
1.Şakar R. Pragmatic Competence and the Limits of Teaching Cultural Meaning: A Sociopragmatic Analysis of Russian From a Turkish Perspective. EEDER. 2026;10:588–606.
MLA
Şakar, Reşat. “Pragmatic Competence and the Limits of Teaching Cultural Meaning: A Sociopragmatic Analysis of Russian From a Turkish Perspective”. Edebi Eleştiri Dergisi, vol. 10, no. 2, Oct. 2026, pp. 588-06, doi:10.31465/eeder.1936183.
Vancouver
1.Reşat Şakar. Pragmatic Competence and the Limits of Teaching Cultural Meaning: A Sociopragmatic Analysis of Russian From a Turkish Perspective. EEDER. 2026 Oct. 1;10(2):588-606. doi:10.31465/eeder.1936183

Journal of Literary Criticism is a refereed journal published in the scope of literature.