Author(s): Derya SARIÅIK
The aim of the present study is to examine the Basil Bernstein’s Deficit Hypothesis and William Labov's Difference Theory and to explain and discuss the linguistic differences of Turkish 4th or 5th grade elementary children living in Germany. In the Deficit Hypothesis, Bernstein suggests that people belonging to the middle or high class use a different kind of language from speakers belonging to the low class. The language of the middle-class child has something which the language of the lower-class child lacks. Middle- class children's success at school is due to their acquiring the „elaborated code? in speaking with their parents at home (Jones, 2013: 3). According to Labov, low class' language is not deficient, rather different. In this study, restricted and elaborated code terminology is described in detail and Bernstein’s Deficit Hypothesis is evaluated based on the results of the survey applied to Turkish children living in Germany. In this article, important information about the syntax, vocabulary, and pragmatic and cognitive interests of Turkish children living in Germany is presented. . The surveys in question also provide some important and current information about the socio-economic status and business situations of the families of the children.
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