Özet:

When language learners read paragraphs, texts, stories etc. in or outside the language classroom, they are able to comprehend the messages by relying on key content words aided by contextual clues, knowledge of the world, and guessing. However, relying merely on this kind of lexical processing is not possible during writing. The psycholinguistic demands of composing messages through writing cause the learners to put much more effort on syntactic processing while handling lexical processing as well. While semantic processing is the focus of a reader’s brain, both semantic and syntactic processing are the focus of the writer’s brain. This study involves the latest information about how brain handles the task of writing, and what role practice plays in the development of cognitive processes related to writing skill while the objective is to achieve automaticity. The importance given to the writing skill in Turkey has been surveyed through questionnaires and analysis of exam results and these findings have been interpreted in the light of these recent findings on cognitive processes concerning writing. It is hoped that it will provide some explanation for the gradual decline in the writing performance of the language learners in recent years.

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