"This volume has its background in a large-scale research programme, High-level Proficiency in Second Language Use, carried out at Stockholm University, the purpose of which was to broadly develop our understanding of the conditions for the attainment of highly advanced L2 proficiency: cognitively/psycholinguistically, linguistically- structurally, and socio-psychologically/societally. The main idea of the volume is to provide a succinct and coherent picture of the empirically based theoretical knowledge that, to date, has been gained within the programme"-- Provided by publisher.

Introduction: High-level proficiency and the concept of nativelikeness in second language and multilingual research practice /Kenneth Hyltenstam, Inge Bartning and Lars Fant -- 1. Age effects on language acquisition, retention and loss : key hypotheses and findings / Niclas Abrahamsson, Kenneth Hyltenstam and Emanuel Bylund -- 2. The last barriers in high-level L2 speech : morphosyntax in focus / Inge Bartning and Fanny Forsberg Lundell -- 3. Discourse and interaction in highly proficient L2 users / Lars Fant -- 4. Formulaic language in advanced long-residency L2 speakers / Britt Erman, Fanny Forsberg Lundell and Margareta Lewis -- 5. Developing lexical complexity in oral production : limitations and possibilities of the advanced L2 learner / Camilla Bardel and Anna Gudmundson -- 6. Reading comprehension in advanced L2 readers / Philip Shaw and Alan McMillion -- 7. Polyglotism : a synergy of abilities and predispositions / Kenneth Hyltenstam -- 8. What's the target? : a folk linguistic study of young Stockholmers' constructions of linguistic norm and variation / Ellen Bijvoet and Kari Fraurud.