Formulaic Utterances in the Multilingual Context

Abstract

In this paper we attempt to gain insight into how formulaic sequences in a multilingual context are accessed and utilised in the solving of comprehension tasks. We hope to show from the evidence presented that the processing of formulaic utterances would appear to differ from that of single-word vocabulary items and that this processing is more problematic in general for the (multilingual) learner. We consider the use of phonological cues to access meaning, the use of holistic and avoidance strategies and cross-linguistic interaction to gain direct or indirect access to shared meaning stores in L1, L2, L3 and L4.