Research Article

Cohesion-First Rhetorical Architectures: A Corpus Analysis of Turkish EFL Metadiscourse

Volume: 9 Number: 2 December 29, 2025
TR EN

Cohesion-First Rhetorical Architectures: A Corpus Analysis of Turkish EFL Metadiscourse

Abstract

This corpus-based study investigates metadiscourse patterns in Turkish EFL academic writing through comparative analysis of the Turkish International Corpus of Learner English (TICLE) and Louvain Corpus of Native English Essays (LOCNESS). Using hybrid automated detection across eight functional categories, the study examines frequency distributions, co-occurrence patterns, length effects, and writer-level diversity to reveal systematic differences between Turkish learners and native speakers. Results demonstrate that Turkish learners construct cohesion-first rhetorical architectures prioritizing explicit textual organization and reader engagement markers. Conversely, native speakers employ integrated stance clusters, comibining hedges, boosters, and self-mentions to calibrate interpersonal positioning. Co-occurrence analysis reveals that Turkish learners organize metadiscourse around organizational hubs while treating stance marking as peripheral, whereas native speakers integrate stance functions within comprehensive rhetorical strategies. These findings challenge deficit-based approaches to L2 metadiscourse instruction. Effective pedagogy should build on Turkish learners’ demonstrated organizational competencies while systematically developing the interpersonal positioning that characterizes mature academic discourse through integrated rather than replacement-based instruction.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Linguistic Performance Science, Discourse and Pragmatics, Applied Linguistics and Educational Linguistics

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 29, 2025

Submission Date

July 17, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 28, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 2

APA
Bozdağ, F. Ü. (2025). Cohesion-First Rhetorical Architectures: A Corpus Analysis of Turkish EFL Metadiscourse. Journal of Language Research, 9(2), 66-87. https://doi.org/10.51726/jlr.1744953
AMA
1.Bozdağ FÜ. Cohesion-First Rhetorical Architectures: A Corpus Analysis of Turkish EFL Metadiscourse. JLR. 2025;9(2):66-87. doi:10.51726/jlr.1744953
Chicago
Bozdağ, Fatih Ünal. 2025. “Cohesion-First Rhetorical Architectures: A Corpus Analysis of Turkish EFL Metadiscourse”. Journal of Language Research 9 (2): 66-87. https://doi.org/10.51726/jlr.1744953.
EndNote
Bozdağ FÜ (December 1, 2025) Cohesion-First Rhetorical Architectures: A Corpus Analysis of Turkish EFL Metadiscourse. Journal of Language Research 9 2 66–87.
IEEE
[1]F. Ü. Bozdağ, “Cohesion-First Rhetorical Architectures: A Corpus Analysis of Turkish EFL Metadiscourse”, JLR, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 66–87, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.51726/jlr.1744953.
ISNAD
Bozdağ, Fatih Ünal. “Cohesion-First Rhetorical Architectures: A Corpus Analysis of Turkish EFL Metadiscourse”. Journal of Language Research 9/2 (December 1, 2025): 66-87. https://doi.org/10.51726/jlr.1744953.
JAMA
1.Bozdağ FÜ. Cohesion-First Rhetorical Architectures: A Corpus Analysis of Turkish EFL Metadiscourse. JLR. 2025;9:66–87.
MLA
Bozdağ, Fatih Ünal. “Cohesion-First Rhetorical Architectures: A Corpus Analysis of Turkish EFL Metadiscourse”. Journal of Language Research, vol. 9, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 66-87, doi:10.51726/jlr.1744953.
Vancouver
1.Fatih Ünal Bozdağ. Cohesion-First Rhetorical Architectures: A Corpus Analysis of Turkish EFL Metadiscourse. JLR. 2025 Dec. 1;9(2):66-87. doi:10.51726/jlr.1744953