Knowledge of idiomatic expressions in the native language: Do emigrants lose their touch?

Two studies are presented that investigated whether and to what extent emigration affects the knowledge of idiomatic expressions in native language. Data on Dutch emigrant idiom were compared data from two groups non-emigrants differing age. Research questions addressed a) possible differences between emigrants non-emigrants, b) effect properties such as familiarity transparency c) participant characteristics length, use Dutch, age knowledge. The results show when effects minimized, only a small difference emerges non-emigrants; positively affect both older is better than younger while for facilitatory absent. We argue this might have been obscured by which has negative discuss with respect those previous suggest avenues future research.