Exploring the Inner Thought Processes of Bilingual Individuals: A Study on Self-Reported Language Use of Syrian Immigrant Children in Türkiye

Authors : Aylin Yardımcı

Pages : 125-136

Doi:10.51726/jlr.1786636

View : 54 | Download : 140

Publication Date : 2025-12-29

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :One of the most visible effects of globalization is that people of different languages and cultures begin to live in different countries for a variety of reasons, including education, travel, and migration. To survive in a new nation, individuals who migrate, in particular, must acquire the language of that country. Individuals born in countries to which their families immigrated learn their native language and are frequently raised bilingual. The purpose of this study is to investigate the self-reported inner-thought processes of 96 Syrian bilingual children who have settled in Türkiye as a result of the Syrian civil war and are currently living in temporary shelters under temporary protection in order to gain more insight about the cognitive processes of bilingual individuals. The study data were gathered through open-ended questions and face-to-face interviews. The results of the study show that Turkish is the dominant language in the inner thought processes of bilingual Syrian immigrant children, although Arabic also has a significant influence. As a result of this data, it has been concluded that bilingual individuals growing up in societies where L2 and its culture are dominant also have L2 as the dominant language in their thought processes. It is anticipated that the study\\\'s findings will advance knowledge of the sociocultural problems faced by the bilingual population in Türkiye and inform future research projects aimed at creating a curriculum.
Keywords : Dilbilim, sosyodilbilim, iki dillilik, dil öğrenimi, içsel düşünce, göçmen bireyler

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