Bilingual Language, Culture, and Emotion
In
much of the world, speaking multiple languages is the norm. Virtually
everyone in the Netherlands and Norway speaks passable English, and it’s
possible to travel, or even get a doctorate, in many European countries
without speaking the local language at all.
Despite widespread multilingualism, most research on the psychology
of language has focused on monolingual English speakers. But in the last
decade or so, psychological scientists have started studying people who
speak multiple languages. This research has included how bilinguals’
brains manage multiple languages, how they feel emotional words in their
different languages, and whether their behavior and personality change
when they speak different languages. Read more...