| Summary: | Historical language is for the advanced education of students and for understanding the new, complex terminology which we are not accustomed to and the development of the language which has gradually been more complex. Being conscious of the historical language may be the products while learning the history. In other words, historical language is an important factor in learning and teaching the history. Therefore, the words may have different references according to context and situations they are used and they may also change in line with the situations the listener and the speaker encounter them. Moreover, communication not only involves the use of individual symbols (words), but also includes all of the structure of symbolic patterns (word groups and sentences). These larger groups have the same detailed relationships (related to reference areas) as in the separate words. A part of the general problem of communication may arise from the following fact. Words, word groups, clauses, sentences are the symbols which have specific references and reference areas for the speaker but it is not certain that the reference and reference areas would be transferred to listeners. The aim of this study is to determine the problems stemming from language use in history classes via analyzing the relationship between history education and language by considering the students’ perspective on history education and language relationship. At the same time it is the aim of this study to offer a unique model to show how the relationship between history education and language should be analyzed. Te study is based on a descriptive research model. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are used. First of all, qualitative data are collected, analyzed and reached findings and then during the experimental process, which is designed considering these findings, quantitative data are collected, analyzed and the results are found. While collecting the data, literature is reviewed, observation and interview techniques are used. In this study, the students in secondary schools are observed in history classes to see how they use historical language. Moreover, the relationship between history education and language is analyzed from student perspective thus, perception problems which emerge while the students use historical language are identified. The results about these perception problems, semantic connotation and phonetic connotation, which are identified and defined in this study, are illustrated. The study is based on the observations of 168 9-grade students in four different schools. Student-centered language problems which are identified according to the results of data collected and mentioned in detail in the study are defined as semantic connotation, phonetic connotation and concept loss. The connotation problem in this study is not being able to associate definite or specific meanings with words, historical names and concepts exactly. The meanings of the words differ according to the contexts they are used in and also to the contexts the speaker and the listener encounter them. When the words are used, they evoke the previous contexts the listener used them and these connotations are the possible meanings that the listener may understand. These results may explain secondary school students’ language problems in history classes. However, is should never be forgotten that history education is a part of life. Therefore, history education contains some things from human life. We can see this in the students’ use of historical language. In sum, in this study language problems in history education are emphasized. Moreover, it is revealed that history teachers play a significant role in developing students’ perception by enhancing the number of language sources used. Thus, it is aimed that students are able to analyze the past with its all richness and complexity. Students’ perception problems in using historical language and the underlying reasons are brought out.
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