Multilingualism WithOut Words: A non-lexicalist model of bilingualism

Standard models of bilingualism are primarily concerned with how words in multiple languages are stored and associated in the mind. However, there is growing consensus in linguistic theory that language cannot be organized around words, given that meaning, syntax, and form do not always align at the word level. We propose the Multilingualism WithOut Words (M-WOW) model to realign models of bilingualism with current linguistic theory and account for a broader typology of languages. In contrast to other models, M-WOW allows more flexibility in how features are realized across languages and expands the possibilities for code-switching. Because the model does not rely on a word level, it accommodates a broader set of linguistic phenomena and provides new insights into bilingual language processing and the dynamic and variable processes of L2 acquisition and attrition.