The effect of language proficiency on L2 English learners’ processing of morphologically complex words: Evidence from masked transposed letter priming

Abstract

The relative sequence of morphological decomposition and whole-word recognition during morphologically complex word (MCW) processing has attracted much attention in recent years. However, most studies have only focused on inflected and derived words while disregarding compound words, and have mainly examined the differences between native speakers and L2 learners without addressing language proficiency levels. This paper investigates the language proficiency effect on L2 English learners’ processing of all the three types of MCWs in a masked transposed letter priming paradigm. Results showed that the high proficiency learners adhered to the Post-lexical Model in general, while the low proficiency learners presented a blurred tendency due to their poor whole-word memory and overall processing efficiency. Different morphological types caused gradable priming effects with compounds on the top of the continuum. In sum, language proficiency as well as morphological types impacts L2 learners’ MCW processing mechanisms.