Refusal strategies in Turkish-Persian bilinguals vs. Persian monolinguals: a pragmatic comparison

Abstract

This study examines the differences in refusal strategies between Turkish-Persian bilinguals and Persian monolinguals, focusing on how bilingualism and cultural norms shape pragmatic competence. Employing a discourse completion task (DCT) with 60 participants (30 bilinguals, 30 monolinguals), the research analyzes quantitative and qualitative data to compare direct and indirect refusal strategies. Results reveal that Turkish-Persian bilinguals predominantly use indirect strategies (e.g. hedging, apologies, code-switching), reflecting a blend of Turkish and Persian cultural norms, while Persian monolinguals favor direct refusals, prioritizing clarity and formality. These findings underscore the role of bilingualism in fostering adaptive communication strategies that navigate intercultural sensitivities. The study contributes to pragmatics and intercultural communication research by highlighting how bilingual individuals mediate between linguistic systems to mitigate face-threatening acts. Practical implications for language teaching and intercultural training are discussed, emphasizing the need to integrate pragmatic awareness into multilingual education.