Research Article

Analysing Turkish Lexical Collocation Usage of L1 and L2 Users in Academic Writing

Volume: 55 Number: 252 November 1, 2026
TR EN

Analysing Turkish Lexical Collocation Usage of L1 and L2 Users in Academic Writing

Abstract

In foreign language learning, collocation usage has a central importance since it contributes to generate native-like productions; however, researches have shown that foreign language learners have problems using collocations. Although several studies have produced estimates of collocation in foreign language, there is still insufficient data of collocations that Turkish as a foreign language (TFL) learners use. Also, there has been little discussion about the differences and similarities of lexical collocation usages of TFL learners and native Turkish speakers. This study investigates the use of collocations in the academic written corpora of 30 Turkish learners in Germany and 40 university students in Türkiye who are native speakers of Turkish. Defining collocations is a complicated process as the definitions and classifications are different in literature, that’s why, for each collocation pair the TDK dictionary and Turkish National Corpus (Version 3, 2023, July) was used to define them separately. For the present study, the criteria which were adopted from the literature regarding how to make lists of lexical collocations were determined from a mixed method perspective, namely both frequency and phraseology method. The results show although TFL learners are hesitant to use collocations and prefer to use highfrequency collocations they display similar collocation behaviours as well.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research was funded by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK) under the program of 2219.

Thanks

We would like to thank the lecturers Sevgi Çıkrıkçı (The University of Duisburg-Essen), Alptuğ Güney (University of Bonn), and Prof Dr Elke Hartman (Freie University Berlin) for invaluable support during the data collection of the research. Also we owe thanks to Aksu Kurtoğlu (Bilkent University) for her recommendations for the method part of this study.

References

  1. Aksu Kurtoğlu, Ö. (2016). A theoretical view to collocations with an argument of integrant approach in teaching level. Mersin Üniversitesi Dil ve Edebiyat Dergisi, 13(1), 39-70.
  2. Arıcı, B. (2017). Eğitsel oyunların Almanya’da yaşayan Türk çocuklarının Türkçe öğrenme başarılarına etkisi [Yayımlanmamış doktora tezi]. Atatürk Üniversitesi.
  3. Baker, M. (Ed.). (1998). Routledge encyclopedia of translation studies. Routledge.
  4. Barfield, A., & Gyllstad, H. (Eds.). (2009). Researching collocations in another language: Multiple interpretations. Palgrave Macmillan.
  5. Boers, F., & Lindstromberg, S. (2009). Optimizing a lexical approach to instructed second language acquisition. Palgrave Macmillan.
  6. Boers, F., & Webb, S. (2018). Teaching and learning collocation in adult second and foreign language learning. Language Teaching, 51(1), 77-89. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444817000351
  7. Brezina, V., & Fox, L. (2021). Adjective + noun collocations in L2 and L1 speech: Evidence from the Trinity Lancaster Corpus and the spoken BNC2014. In S. Granger (Ed.), Perspectives on the L2 phrasicon: The view from learner corpora (pp. 152–177). Multilingual Matters.
  8. Çelebi, İ. (2020). Almanya’da Tükçe öğrenen Türk çocuklarına yönelik hazırlanan dinleme becerisi etkinlik ve uygulama örnekleri [Yayımlanmamış doktora tezi]. Gazi Üniversitesi.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Turkish Education, Turkish Language and Literature Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

November 1, 2026

Submission Date

April 1, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 25, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 55 Number: 252

APA
Şen Bartan, Ö., & Tetik, A. (2026). Analysing Turkish Lexical Collocation Usage of L1 and L2 Users in Academic Writing. Milli Eğitim Dergisi, 55(252), 1605-1626. https://doi.org/10.37669/milliegitim.1668537
AMA
1.Şen Bartan Ö, Tetik A. Analysing Turkish Lexical Collocation Usage of L1 and L2 Users in Academic Writing. Milli Eğitim Dergisi. 2026;55(252):1605-1626. doi:10.37669/milliegitim.1668537
Chicago
Şen Bartan, Özgür, and Ayşe Tetik. 2026. “Analysing Turkish Lexical Collocation Usage of L1 and L2 Users in Academic Writing”. Milli Eğitim Dergisi 55 (252): 1605-26. https://doi.org/10.37669/milliegitim.1668537.
EndNote
Şen Bartan Ö, Tetik A (November 1, 2026) Analysing Turkish Lexical Collocation Usage of L1 and L2 Users in Academic Writing. Milli Eğitim Dergisi 55 252 1605–1626.
IEEE
[1]Ö. Şen Bartan and A. Tetik, “Analysing Turkish Lexical Collocation Usage of L1 and L2 Users in Academic Writing”, Milli Eğitim Dergisi, vol. 55, no. 252, pp. 1605–1626, Nov. 2026, doi: 10.37669/milliegitim.1668537.
ISNAD
Şen Bartan, Özgür - Tetik, Ayşe. “Analysing Turkish Lexical Collocation Usage of L1 and L2 Users in Academic Writing”. Milli Eğitim Dergisi 55/252 (November 1, 2026): 1605-1626. https://doi.org/10.37669/milliegitim.1668537.
JAMA
1.Şen Bartan Ö, Tetik A. Analysing Turkish Lexical Collocation Usage of L1 and L2 Users in Academic Writing. Milli Eğitim Dergisi. 2026;55:1605–1626.
MLA
Şen Bartan, Özgür, and Ayşe Tetik. “Analysing Turkish Lexical Collocation Usage of L1 and L2 Users in Academic Writing”. Milli Eğitim Dergisi, vol. 55, no. 252, Nov. 2026, pp. 1605-26, doi:10.37669/milliegitim.1668537.
Vancouver
1.Özgür Şen Bartan, Ayşe Tetik. Analysing Turkish Lexical Collocation Usage of L1 and L2 Users in Academic Writing. Milli Eğitim Dergisi. 2026 Nov. 1;55(252):1605-26. doi:10.37669/milliegitim.1668537