Cover not available

Article published In: Language Problems and Language Planning
Vol. 38:3 (2014) ► pp.265–291

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
authorization required

English language spread in academia

Macro-level state policies and micro-level practices of scholarly publishing in Turkey

 | Gazi University
Published online: 22 December 2014
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.38.3.03uys
This article first historically examines the macro-level Turkish state policies with regard to scholarly publishing within the framework of the English language spread paradigms of diffusion-of-English and language-ecology. Then, the effects of these policies at the micro-level are investigated in two major Turkish universities through a survey of scholars’ perceptions and practices of scientific publishing in English. The results reveal a rapid spread of English in academia as the language of scientific publishing consistently encouraged by the state policies and somewhat by academics which may lead to a gradual ‘domain loss’ for Turkish; however, reactions against English dominance are also evident in various forms in language planning, attitudes, and practices. Thus, language spread and ecology seem to co-exist in some interesting and contradictory ways.
References (92)
Akarsu, F. (2000). Transition and education: A case study of the process of change in Turkey. In K. Mazurek, M. Winzer & C. Majorek (Eds.), Education in a global society: A comparative perspective (pp. 315–329). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ak, M.Z. & Gülmez A. (2006). The analysis of international publication performance of Turkey. Akademik Incelemeler [Academic Investigations], 1(1), 25–43.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Akıllı, E., Büyükçınar, Ö., Latif, V., Yetgin, S., Gürses, E.A., Saraç, C. & Demirel, İ.H. (2009). Türkiye Bilimsel Yayın Göstergeleri II 1981-2007 Türkiye Ülkeler Gruplar [The publication indicators of Turkey (II) 1981-2007, Turkey, Countries, Groups]. Ankara: TUBITAK.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Al, U. (2012). Publication and citation performances of European Union countries and Turkey. Bilig, 621, 1–20.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Alptekin, C. (1998). Learning a foreign language does not mean losing Turkish. In A. Kilimci (Ed.), Anadilinde cocuk olmak: Yabanci dilde egitim [Being a child speaking in the mother-tongue: Education through foreign languages] (pp. 34–37). Ankara: Papirüs Publications.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ardınç, F.N. (2007). Türkçe yayın ve akademik yükseltme kriterleri [Turkish publications and academic promotion criteria]. In O. Yilmaz (Ed.), Sağlık Bilimlerinde Süreli Yayıncılık (pp. 35–38). Ankara: Tubitak-Ulakbim.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Arıoğlu, E. & Girgin, C. (2002). 1974-2001 döneminde ülkemizde bilimsel yayın performansının kısa değerlendirilmesi [The evaluation of scientific publication performance of Turkey between 1974-2001]. Science & Utopia Journal, 951, 62–66.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2003). Ülkemizin yayın sıralamasına eleştirel bir bakış [A critical look at the publication rankings of Turkey]. Science & Utopia Journal, 1051, 38–41.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ayyıldız, M. & Bozkurt, Ü. (2006). Edebiyat ve kompozisyon eğitiminde karşılaşılan sorunlar [The problems faced in literature and composition education]. Turkish Education Sciences Journal, 4(1), 45–52.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Baldauf, R.B. (2005). Language planning and policy research: An overview. In E. Hinkel (Ed.), Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning (pp. 957–970). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Baskurt, O. (2007). Akademik atama ve yükseltmelerde yayın etkinliğinin önemi ve kriterlerin standardizasyonu [The importance of publication activities in academic promotions and standardization of criteria]. In O. Yilmaz (Ed.) Saglık Bilimlerinde Süreli Yayıncılık (pp. 85–88). Ankara: Tubitak-Ulakbim.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bear, J. (1998). Yabanci dilde egitim [Education in foreign languages]. In A. Kilimci (Ed.), Anadilinde çocuk olmak: Yabanci dilde egitim [Being a child speaking in the mother-tongue: Education through foreign languages] (pp. 73–76). Ankara: Papirüs Publications.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bolton, K. (2005). Where WE stands: Approaches, issues, and debate in world Englishes. World Englishes, 24(1), 69–83. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Brutt-Griffler, J. (2002). World English: A study of its development. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Canagarajah, A.S. (1999). Resisting linguistic imperialism in English teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2005). Introduction. In A.S. Canagarajah (Ed.), Reclaiming the local in language policy and practice (pp. xiii–xxx). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2006a). Negotiating the local in English as a lingua franca. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 261, 197–218. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2006b). The place of world Englishes in composition: Pluralization continued. College Composition and Communication, 57(4), 586–619.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Casanave, C.P. (1998). Transitions: The balancing act of bilingual academics. Journal of Second Language Writing, 121, 175–203. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cohen, D. & Crabtree, B. (2006). Qualitative research guidelines project. Princeton, New Jersey: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Available at [URL]Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Crystal, D. (1997). English as a global language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2008). Two thousand million? English Today, 241, 3–6. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Curry, M.J. & Lillis, T. (2004). Mulitilingual scholars and the imperative to publish in English: Negotiating interests, demands, and rewards. TESOL Quarterly, 38(3), 663–688. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Davies, A. (1996). Ironising the myth of linguicism. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 17(6), 485–496. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Demircan, Ö. (1988). Dünden bugüne Türkiye’de yabancı dil [Foreign languages in Turkey from past to present]. İstanbul: Remzi Kitabevi.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (1995). Yabancı öğretim diliyle nereye? [Where to go with foreign language as the medium of education?]. Ögretmen Dünyası, 1821, 19–20.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dogancay-Aktuna, S. (1995). An evaluation of the Turkish language reform after 60 years. Language Problems and Language Planning, 19(3), 221–249. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (1998). The spread of English in Turkey and its current sociolinguistic profile. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 19(1), 24–39. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Dogancay-Aktuna, S. & Kiziltepe, Z. (2005). English in Turkey. World Englishes, 24(2), 253–265. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Eurydice (2010). Organization of the education system, Turkey 2009-2010. Available at: [URL].
Flowerdew, J. (1999). Problems in writing for scholarly publication in English: The case of Hong Kong. Journal of Second Language Writing, 8(3), 243–264. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2000). Discourse community, legitimate peripheral participation, and the nonnative English speaking scholar. TESOL Quarterly, 34(1), 127–150. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gibson, F., Perez-Llantada, P., & Plo, R. (2011). English as an international language of scientific publication: A study of attitudes. World Englishes, 301, 41–59. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Göçer, A. (2010). Writing education in Turkish education. The Journal of International Social Research, 3(12), 178–195.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Graddol, D. (2000). The future of English: A guide to forecasting the popularity of the English language in the 21st century. London: British Council.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2006). English next: Why global English may mean the end of ‘English as a foreign language. London: British Council.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Harwood, N. & Hadley, G. (2004). Demystifying institutional practices: Critical pragmatism and the teaching of academic writing. English for Specific Purposes, 231, 355–377.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Higher Education Council (HEC). (2008). The regulation on the conditions of teaching foreign languages and English-medium education in tertiary education. 4/12/2008 Official Gazette No. 27074. Available at: [URL].Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2010). The higher education system in Turkey. Bilkent, Ankara. Available at [URL]Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Higher Education Law (1981) No. 2547. Available at: [URL]
Higher Education Institutions Structure Law (1983). No. 2809. Available at [URL]
IUC-Inter-University Council (2000). Doçentlik sınav yönetmeliği [Regulation for the associate professorship exam], 01/09/2000. Resmi Gazette, No. 24157.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
IUC (2009). Doçentlik sınav yönetmeliği [Regulation for the evaluation for associate professorship], 31/01/2009. Resmi Gazette, No. 27127.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Jenkins, J. (2006). Current perspectives on teaching world Englishes and English as a lingua franca. TESOL Quarterly, 40(1), 157–181. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kachru, B.B. (1992). Teaching world Englishes. In B.B. Kachru (Ed.), The other tongue: English across cultures (pp. 355–365). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kachru, Y. (1995). Contrastive rhetoric in World Englishes. English Today, 411, 21–31. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kaplan, R.B. (2001). The dominance of English as a lingua of science: Effects on other languages and language communities. In U. Ammon (Ed.), The dominance of English as a lingua of science: Effects on other languages and language communities (pp. 3–26). New York: Mouton de Gruyter.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kaplan, R.B. & Baldauf, R.B. (1997). Language planning: From practice to theory. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kaplan, R.B. & Baldauf. R.B. (2005). Language-in-education policy and planning. In E. Hinkel (Ed.), Handbook of research in second language teaching and learning (pp. 1013–1034). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kılıçkaya, F. (2006). Instructors’ attitudes towards English-medium instruction in Turkey. Humanizing Language Teaching, 8(6), 1–16.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kılınç A. (2001). YÖK bilimde Türkçeye karşı mı? [Is HEC against Turkish in science?]. Available at [URL].
Kırkgöz, Y. (2005). Motivation and student perception of studying in an English-medium university. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 1(1), 101–123.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kinzer, S. (2001). Crescent and star: Turkey between two worlds. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Köksal, A. (2002). Yabancı dilde öğretim: Türkiye’nin en büyük yanılgısı [Education in foreign languages: Turkey’s biggest mistake]. Ankara: Ögretmen Dünyası.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Krippendorff, K. (2004). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lillis, T. & Curry, J.M. (2010). Academic writing in a global context. London: Routledge.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Mauranen, A. (1993). Cultural differences in academic rhetoric. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Merriam, S.B. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ortaş, I. (2009). Bilimsel yayinlar sounu [The problem of scientific publications]. Available at [URL]
ÖSYM (2011). Student selection and placement examination list of preferences book. Ankara: YÖK.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Pazarlıoğlu, M.V. & Özkoç, H. (2009). The econometric analysis of international publications of Turkey between 1983-2004. Sosyal Bilimler, 7(2), 45–58.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Pennycook, A. (1994). The cultural politics of English as an international language. New York: Longman.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2004). Language policy and ecological turn. Language Policy, 31, 213–239. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Phillipson, R. (1992). Linguistic imperialism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (1997). Realities and myths of linguistic imperialism. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 18(3), 238–248. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2006). English, a cuckoo in the European higher education nest of languages? European Journal of English Studies, 10(1), 13–22. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2007). Linguistic imperialism: A conspiracy, or a conspiracy of silence? Language Policy, 61, 377–383. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2008). Lingua franca or lingua frankensteinia? English in European integration and globalization. World Englishes, 27(2), 250–267. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Phillipson, R. & Skutnabb-Kangas, T. (1996). English only world wide or language ecology? TESOL Quarterly, 30(3), 429–452. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (1997). Linguistic human rights and English in Europe. World Englishes, 16(1), 27–43. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ramanathan, V. (2005). The English-vernacular divide: Postcolonial language politics and practice. Clevedon: Multilingual MattersGoogle Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ricento, T. (2006). An introduction to language policy: Theory and method. Malden, MA: Blackwell.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Seidlhofer, B. (2004). Research perspectives on teaching English as a lingua franca. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 241, 209–239. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sert, N. (2008). The language of instruction dilemma in the Turkish context. System, 361, 156–171. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sinanoğlu, O. (2002). Bye-Bye Türkçe. Ankara: Otopsi Publications.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Skutnabb-Kangas, T. (2000). Linguistic human rights and teachers of English. In J.K. Hall & W.G. Eggington (Eds.), The sociopolitics of English language teaching (pp. 22–44). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Soydal, I. & Al, U. (2011). An evaluation on Turkey addressed journals in citation indexes. Bilgi Dunyasi, 12(1), 13–29.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Spolsky, B. (2004). Language policy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Swales, J. (1997). English as tyrannosaurus rex. World Englishes, 16(3), 373–382. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tardy, C. (2004). The role of English in scientific communication: Lingua franca or Tyrannosaurus rex? Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 31, 247–269. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tok, H. & Arıbaş, S. (2008). Teaching foreign languages during adaptation process to European Union. Inönü University Education Faculty Journal, 9(15), 205–227.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Truchot, C. (1997). The spread of English: From France to a more general perspective. World Englishes, 16(1), 65–76. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Tsuda, Y. (1994). The diffusion of English: Its impact on culture and communication. Keio Communication Review, 16(1), 65–76.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (1997). Hegemony of English vs. ecology of language: Building equality in international communication. In L. Smith & M. Forman (Eds.), World Englishes 2000 (vol. 141). Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
TUBITAK-ULAKBIM (2011) Turkish Publication Statistics. Available at: [URL].
ULAKBIM (2010). UBYT uygulama esaslarinda degisiklik [Change in the principles of application of Ulakbim publication incentives>], 191 sayili Bilim Kurulu Karari. Available at: [URL]Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
United Nations Development Program Reports (UNDP). (2009). Available at: [URL]
Uysal, H.H., Plakans, L. & Dembovskaya, S. (2007). English spread in local contexts: Turkey, Latvia, and France. Current Issues in Language Planning, 8(2), 192–207. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wright, S. (2004). Language policy and language planning. London: Palgrave Macmillan. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Yalgın, Ç. (2004). Türkçe ve bilim [Turkish and science]. Aydınlanma, 1923, 8, 43–48.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zülfikar, H. (2008). Yabancılaşan bilim dilimizdeki ihmaller ve kayıplar üzerine [On the losses and neglects of our science language with foreign contamination]. Türk Dili, 6821, 320–329.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. (2009). Aradan 70 yıl geçmesine karşın terimlerde birlik sağlanamaması üzerine [On the failure of unification of terminologies after 70 years]. Türk Dili, 6881, 339–347.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (7)

Cited by seven other publications

Alhasnawi, Sami, Hacer Hande Uysal & Batuhan Selvi
2023. English as the Academic Lingua Franca (ELFA) for research publication purposes: voices from Iraq and Turkey. Journal of English as a Lingua Franca 12:2 ► pp. 183 ff. DOI logo
İŞİ, Nazan & Korkut Uluç İŞİSAĞ
2023. Academics’ Views of Receiving and Acknowledging Language Assistance. Çeviribilim ve Uygulamaları Dergisi :35 ► pp. 42 ff. DOI logo
KUŞÇU ÖZBUDAK, Seda
2023. Linguistic reasons and professional concerns behind Turkish academicians' self-translation of academic texts. RumeliDE Dil ve Edebiyat Araştırmaları Dergisi :36 ► pp. 1561 ff. DOI logo
Bozbıyık, Merve & Hacer Hande Uysal
2022. A Closer Look at the Doctoral Writing Practices in an English-Medium Instruction University in Turkey. In English as the Medium of Instruction in Turkish Higher Education [Multilingual Education, 40], ► pp. 175 ff. DOI logo
Isaacs, Dane & Leslie Swartz
2021. Lived experience of people who stutter: a descriptive review of qualitative studies from 1990–2017. Disability & Society 36:1 ► pp. 81 ff. DOI logo
Tikhonova, Elena & Lilia Raitskaya
2020. Mapping the Current Research Agenda on Scholarly Publishing: Scopus-Indexed Reviews. Journal of Language and Education 6:4 ► pp. 4 ff. DOI logo
Aydınlı, Julie & Deniz Ortaçtepe
2018. Selected research in applied linguistics and English language teaching in Turkey: 2010–2016. Language Teaching 51:2 ► pp. 210 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 27 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue