English Compound Meaning Predictability: An Exploratory Cross-Linguistic Study

Compound words are integral to the development of word knowledge in English. This study explored cross-linguistic similarities and differences compound-meaning inference, focusing on semantic relation between modifier head noun-noun compounds. Semantic specifies how meanings combined. Although some less-established compounds allow multiple relation, causing ambiguity meaning, L1 speakers English typically prefer using relation/meaning. investigated whether L2 students would be able identify dominant ambiguous novel (e.g., child art). Two groups university students, a Thai group Vietnamese group, completed multiple-choice format, inference task, which they identified meanings, as preferred by native Results indicated that did not differ their overall mean scores for although demonstrated at item level. discusses need more studies compound words. Keywords: processing; second language; vocabulary; semantics; meaning predictability