If a non-native speaker learning English misinterprets the idiom 'break a leg' literally before a performance, which consequence follows?

💡 Explanation

Misinterpreting an idiom results in incorrect semantic processing because the Idiomaticity Effect dictates that idioms are processed holistically, rather than compositionally. Therefore, literal misinterpretation leads to heightened anxiety and impaired performance, rather than improved language processing which would occur with correct understanding.

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