A Content Analysis of Doctoral Dissertations on L2 Pronunciation by Turkish Authors

This study analysed the doctoral dissertations on L2 pronunciation by Turkish authors. Using content analysis, the study aimed to identify the bibliometric characteristics, methodological properties, research topics, and main findings. The results indicated that Turkish thesis writers minimally addressed L2 pronunciation features, accompanied by limited and unbalanced gender, institutional, and geographic representation. Correspondingly, they employed conventional research methods, leaving further gaps in the use of more up-to-date designs, tools, and analysis techniques, and in the inclusion of more diverse samples. Additionally, insufficient concentration on specific research topics (e.g., technology and intelligibility) warrants more inquiry into various areas of pronunciation. The analysed dissertations concluded that explicit and targeted pronunciation instruction consistently leads to measurable improvements in Turkish EFL learners' pronunciation, comprehensibility, and intelligibility, even though certain segmental and suprasegmental errors tend to persist. Altogether, this study discusses the findings and implications for different stakeholders and recommends directions for prospective researchers.