The Effect of L2 Proficiency on the Processing of Multiword Expressions

Abstract

The processing of multiword expressions (MWEs) has gained increasing attention nowadays, and many factors have been proven to influence it. However, within all these factors, whether L2 proficiency affects MWE processing has still not been answered satisfactorily. Some studies have shown that higher L2 proficiency will lead to a processing advantage while others have not. Thus, this paper intends to answer this question by synthesizing and analyzing the related studies about the effect of L2 proficiency on the processing of MWEs through research methods, characteristics of participants, research procedures, and research results and conclusion. This paper provides some possible reasons for the mixed findings of those studies from the aspects of the division of the proficiency levels, the differences of research methods, and the amounts of participants. Based on the limitations of studies that found L2 proficiency did not influence the processing of MWEs, this paper concludes that L2 proficiency plays a role in MWEs processing.