Introduction

This book brings together the findings of current studies on the acquisition Turkish as a second language (L2). The fact that Turkish is a under-researched language in the context of second language acquisition (SLA), combined with the need to address theoretical issues which have largely been overlooked in studies on Turkish language learning/teaching, have provided the motivation for compiling such a volume. Comprising studies on various domains of L2 grammar (i.e. phonology, morpho-syntax, pragmatics) and their interfaces, this volume also includes studies exploring L2 processing of Turkish morpho-­syntax. All studies in this collection involve only adult L2 Turkish learners. Language development in child or adult heritage language speakers, however interesting and revealing, is not covered in the present volume. Although Turkish is generally learned as an additional foreign language after a second or third foreign language, either in or outside Turkey, the term ‘L2 Turkish’ is adopted as an umbrella term in most of the research presented here. Before introducing each study and its theoretical contribution to the field of SLA in general and to L2 Turkish in particular, I would like to present a brief note on the Turkish language, its L2 status, and its linguistic properties as these relate to the issues discussed in this book.