Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Hamed Tahmasebi ¹
• Ali Atarian ²

¹ Associate Professor, Center for Language and Islamic Studies, Al-Mustafa Al-Alamiyah University, Qom, Iran

² Visiting Professor, Center for Language and Islamic Studies, Al-Mustafa Al-Alamiyah University, Qom, Iran

Abstract

The ability to communicate with others is one of the primary goals of language education through a communicative approach. Verbal communication always takes shape in various linguistic roles. This research employs a descriptive method to examine linguistic roles and their application according to Halliday's seven roles in the General Persian textbooks 1, 2, and 3 from the Parsa series. The Parsa series of Persian language teaching books is widely used in many Persian language education centers both domestically and abroad, and it has been developed in a task-based communicative manner. The General Persian textbooks 1, 2, and 3 were selected due to their centrality in the Parsa series and their instruction of all four language skills, allowing for an analysis of Halliday's seven roles within them. The General Persian textbooks pay considerable attention to the social roles of language. In total, 4,635 social roles were observed across the three General Persian textbooks, among which 1,595 were interactive roles, 1,043 were exploratory roles, 787 were informative roles, 548 were personal roles, 360 were instrumental roles, 234 were regulatory roles, and 68 were imaginative roles. The highest number of roles is attributed to interactive roles, indicating the book's special focus on teaching communication issues, while the least attention is given to imaginative roles. All seven roles in General Persian Book 3 show a significant upward growth, corresponding to the increase in language proficiency. As learners' language levels rise, more roles can be referenced in a conversation. The number of interactive and informative roles in Book 2 has slightly decreased compared to Book 1. Based on the information obtained, the General Persian textbooks can meet the communicative needs of language learners.

Keywords

• Farsi language teaching
• communicative approach
• functional linguistics
• seven roles of language
• Parsa Persian language teaching book collection
• Al-Mustafi Community Language and Islamic Education Center

Main Subjects

• Criticism and analysis of books and resources available in Persian language education