Review of Doctoral Research on Language Acquisition between 2000 and 2024 in Türkiye

Language acquisition has been an appealing topic for many researchers. The general consensus is that acquisition differs from learning in that it involves acquiring knowledge and skills unconsciously. Several theories have been proposed to explain first and second language acquisition. On the other hand, there have been crucial issues and controversies that have emerged due to distinct scientific traditions employed, and thus there is still a huge pile of questions awaiting answers. The main goal of this study is to provide a comprehensive picture of doctoral research on language acquisition between 2000 and 2024 in Türkiye. The data have been obtained from the collection of dissertations published online by the National Thesis Centre of the Council of Higher Education (CoHE) in Türkiye. The results offer a deeper understanding of general focus on the language acquisition research among doctoral candidates in Türkiye and how the direction of interest has changed over time. The study also provides valuable references and insights for future research and pedagogy.