What is a consequence of developing an L2 lexicon independently of the L1 lexicon?

• A. Less translation and L1 interference
• B. More translation between L2 and L1
• C. Greater reliance on L1 phonology
• D. Slower vocabulary growth

Answer: (A)

Learning L2 words with independent form-meaning links, separate from the L1, means you build direct representations for each L2 item rather than routing everything through L1. This reduces how much L1 gets involved when you use L2, so you rely less on translating back and forth between languages. In practice, you can access L2 vocabulary directly from its meaning and usage, which lowers cross-language interference and speeds up comfortable use of the L2.

If you were still translating between languages or using L1 as the primary route for producing L2 items, that would indicate the L2 lexicon isn’t independent. Relying on L1 phonology would reflect using L1 as a cue for pronunciation, not a direct L2 representation. And vocabulary growth isn’t determined solely by independence of the lexicon; it can vary with exposure, practice, and other factors.