Abstract:

It is known that individuals’ first languages might have effects on their second language learning. Accordingly, similarities between languages may ease learning process whereas differences may hinder the process depending on the closeness of two languages. In this respect, it is expected that for Turkic languages which share some linguistic characteristics there may be an effect of positive transfer due the similarities among Turkic languages. However, this may not be the case. In the scope of this study, the typological and phonological similarities and differences between Turkish and Kazakh languages and their effect on learning Turkish as a foreign language were investigated. As a result of the analysis, it was found out that there were significant differences among students which resulted from the typological similarities and differences between Kazakh and Turkish on students’ pronunciation in terms of gender, length of residence and participants’ self-assessed Turkish proficiency.

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