Native speakers are sensitive to the frequencies of multiword phrases: they are faster to process higher frequency phrases, after controlling for all part frequencies (e.g. high: Don't have to worry vs. low: Don't have to wait). Here, we ask whether intermediate-advanced late (English) learners are also sensitive to the distributional properties of large language units: four-word combinations. Using a phrasal-decision task, we show that learners process multiword phrase frequency like natives do. This is not restricted to higher frequency phrases, but occurs across the frequency continuum: as natives, learners show multiword frequency effects even when comparing a lower frequency phrase to a higher (but still low) frequency phrase. In addition, we show that the effect is not modulated by the type of English exposure (immersion vs. classroom). These results indicate that late language users develop sensitivity to distributional properties of large language units at native-like level.

This work was supported by the “Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca” (Catalan Government) [GRNC-2014SGR1210, SGR 2009-1521]; the Spanish Government [PSI2011-23033, CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 CSD2007-00048]; and the European Research Council under 7th European Community Framework (FP7/2007-2013) [613465-AThEME]. MH was supported by a Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship [grant agreement no. 271671] within the 7th European Community Framework (FP7/2007-2013), and by the post-doctoral fellowship “Formación Posdoctoral” within the Spanish Government program “Programa Estatal de Promoción del en I+D+i Talento y su Empleabilidad del Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2013–2016”.