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English in Turkey
Author(s) -
DoğançayAktuna Seran,
Kiziltepe Zeynep
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
world englishes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.6
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1467-971X
pISSN - 0883-2919
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-971x.2005.00408.x
Subject(s) - turkish , socioeconomic status , mass media , english language , sociology , political science , linguistics , mathematics education , psychology , demography , population , philosophy , law
This paper offers a sociolinguistic account of the functional range and status of English in Turkey by discussing its role in national education policies as a reflection of governmental acquisition planning, by looking at societal attitudes towards the presence of English in Turkish life, and by examining borrowings from English by the Turkish mass media as examples of unplanned language spread. The paper examines in detail the role of English in different levels of national education, including its role in Turkish academia, as an indication of the status of English in the country. It then discusses societal and individual attitudes towards English and its role in the workplace. Finally, the use of borrowings from English by Turkish mass media is discussed with examples. The paper discusses how English has become yet another divide between the wealthier, educated urban populations and those belonging to other socioeconomic and geographic groups.