COGNITIVE AND LINGUISTIC FACTORS INFLUENCING IDIOM COMPREHENSION IN EFL LEARNERS
Keywords:
idiom comprehension, cognitive factors, linguistic factors, EFL learners, figurative languageAbstract
Idiomatic expressions constitute an essential part of natural language use; however, they remain one of the most challenging aspects of second language acquisition. This article investigates the cognitive and linguistic factors influencing idiom comprehension among learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Drawing on psycholinguistic and cognitive linguistic theories, the study examines how working memory, conceptual metaphor awareness, language proficiency, vocabulary knowledge, idiom transparency, and first language transfer affect learners’ ability to interpret English idioms. The analysis reveals that idiom comprehension is a multifaceted process shaped by the interaction of cognitive capacities and linguistic competence. The findings suggest that linguistic proficiency and metaphor awareness play a particularly significant role in successful idiom processing. The study concludes with pedagogical implications for improving idiom instruction in EFL contexts.
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