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Abstract

This research aims to investigate the impact of multilingualism on multicultural effectiveness and complex identity creation as well as feeling different through speaking different languages. Previous results from the Multicultural Personality Questionnaire by Dewaele suggest that multilinguals score higher Cultural Empathy and Open mindedness but significantly lower Emotional Stability. The results of this particular project however have shown that multilinguals score higher on Cultural Empathy and Social Initiative but similarly on Emotional Stability as monolinguals. Firstly, a higher score on Cultural Empathy can be explained with multilinguals having experienced immigration thus empathise with people from different cultural backgrounds facing similar challenges. Their willingness to communicate was essential for them to learn a second language which is why they are more socially initiative. Lastly, multilingual’s Emotional Stability can be explained by their access to various linguistic repertoires and some of the respondents’ nature of work which requires enhanced stress coping.
Additionally, the effect on identity and feeling different when speaking different languages was investigated. The results of the second questionnaire have shown that languages facilitate multilinguals their membership and sense of belonging into their target cultural group. This project argues that identity is based on group membership and that each of these groups is a speech community with its own communicative norms and values. As a competent speaker we aim to adjust to these norms in order to be accepted by the group, which ultimately provides us with membership and shapes our identity. In regards to feeling different, the results have shown that the respondents relate all of their languages to different personality traits such as being ‘assertive’ in one language and ‘polite’ in another one. Other factors creating these ‘different’ feelings are proficiency as respondents have reported feeling less ‘confident’ in their non-native language and setting of language usage as some languages are used in a familiar context and others in public spheres such as university or work.

Course: International Relations and Languages - BA (Hons) - C1727

Date Deposited: 2023-07-28

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14178.html