Metaphor Comprehension of Chinese Learners of English: Individual Differences Perspective

The mechanisms underlying metaphor comprehension, particularly the roles of analogical reasoning and language-specific conceptual integration have long been debated, with most studies focusing on English as L1 while paying limited attention to L2 contexts. Based on that, this study explores how three individual difference factors—fluid intelligence, crystallized intelligence, and L2 proficiency—influence the comprehension of L2 metaphors with varying degrees of complexity among Chinese EFL learners. Since fluid intelligence is closely associated with analogical reasoning, while crystallized intelligence facilitates the language-specific conceptual combination, this study further investigates their respective contributions, alongside L2 proficiency, to metaphor comprehension. Adopting an individual-difference approach, this study investigated Chinese learners’ metaphorical competence using three measures. The results demonstrate positive correlations between all three factors and L2 literary metaphor comprehension. Both L2 proficiency and crystallized intelligence play a significant role across all levels of metaphor complexity. Crystallized intelligence has a greater influence on literary metaphor comprehension, whereas L2 proficiency is the strongest predictor of non-literary metaphor understanding. In contrast, fluid intelligence functions as a predictor in literary metaphors but has a negligible effect on non-literary metaphors. These findings indicate that both analogical reasoning and conceptual integration are the underlying mechanisms of L2 metaphor interpretation, though their relative contributions vary depending on metaphor complexity. The study verifies the pedagogical significance of enhancing L2 proficiency and crystallized intelligence (cultural knowledge accumulation) in fostering L2 learners’ metaphor comprehension competence. Moreover, for the interpretation of metaphors with high cognitive complexity, training in fluid intelligence may also be beneficial.