The role of proficiency on processing categorical and associative information in the L2 as revealed by reaction times and event-related brain potentials

Event-related brain potentials (ERP) studies show that L2 learners can exhibit relatively native-like processing patterns in semantics [Bilingual.: Lang. Cogn. 4 (2001) 123], but examining different semantic information types—associative and categorical—shows that L2 semantic processing is sensitive to proficiency. If the links between concepts and L2 words are weak for L2 learners [J. Memory Lang. 33 (1994) 149; Memory Cogn. 23 (1995) 166], then lower proficiency learners are less likely to show native-like RT and ERP N400 priming effects for categorical pairs (boy–junior) than are more advanced learners. If proficiency modulates the automaticity of processing in the L2 lexical network, less proficient late learners may also differ from advanced learners in associative priming (boy–girl). We report proficiency effects with ERP and RT data from word list priming performed by advanced and less proficient late German learners of English. The advanced learners showed associative RT and N400 ERP priming effects similar to early advanced learners and native speakers [Bilingual.: Lang. Cogn. 4 (2001) 143], but very limited categorical priming effects. The lower proficiency group showed no RT effects for either categorical or associative pairs but associative N400 priming. Results suggest that in a fast word list priming task, proficiency and the type of semantic information processed are important determinants of how autonomous L2 semantic processing can be