Emotion Processing in a Highly Proficient Multilingual Sub-Saharan African Population

A Quantitative and Qualitative Investigation

Datos Bibliográficos

ID5900883
AutoresDana M Basnight-Brown (0000-0002-7200-6976, United States International University Africa), Asiya Ayoob (United States International University Africa), Jeanette Altarriba (0000-0002-9510-101X, Albany State University, autor de correspondencia)
Año2022
Volumen7
Número4
Páginas280
Fecha de publicación2022-11-02
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaLanguages (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2226-471X • E-ISSN: 2226-471X
EditorialMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/languages7040280
OpenAlexW4308120353
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas28

Research using traditional experimental paradigms (e.g., Priming, Stroop and Simon tasks), narratives and interview type data have revealed that bilingual speakers process and express emotion differently in their two languages. In the current study, both a qualitative and quantitative approach were taken to investigate how individuals who know and regularly use several languages process emotion in each of their languages. In Experiment 1, emotional stimuli in the L2 and L3 was quantitatively investigated using an Affective Simon Task. Participants consisted of Sub-Saharan African multilinguals who had acquired Kiswahili (L2) after their mother tongue (L1), followed by English (L3). The results revealed no difference in the way emotion and emotion-laden words were processed in the two languages (Kiswahili and English). However, significant Affective Simon Effects emerged for positive emotion and emotion-laden words, suggesting that these multilinguals largely process positive emotions in their L2 and L3. In Experiment 2, narrative data generated by multilinguals was used to determine how language selection was influenced by context and type of emotional situation. Themes that emerged within the qualitative analysis revealed that one's L1 was the more emotional language when expressing negative emotions, while the L2 and L3 were reported to be used more frequently when expressing positive emotions, or when discussing more sensitive or embarrassing topics

Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Context (archaeology · Linguistics · Narrative · Priming (agriculture · Stroop effect · Categorization, perception, and language · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Psychology