The Structure of Bilingual Family Discourse Iraqi-Kurdish families as a sample

Abstract

This study investigates some systemic features of language use,
which are related to bilingual family discourse. Discourse analysis is
used as a method for studying the discourses in question. The model
adopted is that of Sinclair and Coulthard (1975, 1992).
The aim of this analysis is to recognize the discourse patterns and
strategies that are used by the members of the selected families during
conversations.
It is hypothesized that bilingual family discourse is structured and
is highly organized despite the constant and random topics shifting,
changing of the participant‟s roles, and sometimes violation of some
grammatical rules.
Data analysis shows that family discourse is of five ranks,
namely interaction, transaction, exchange, move, and act. Interaction
consists of transaction which is composed of a number of exchanges.
An exchange in turn comprises a number of moves which can be
divided into different types of acts. The research has come up with a
conclusion that validates the set hypothesis.