Expressing emotions in different languages: is there a difference?

Radoš, Gabrijela. (2014). Expressing emotions in different languages: is there a difference?. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of English Language and Literature. [mentor Medved-Krajnović, Marta].

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Abstract

This thesis focuses on expressing emotions in different languages by bi- and multilingual speakers. It first provides a brief overview of what emotion by definition is, how multilinguals experience emotions, whether they express in the same way their emotions in all languages they speak, which languages they use to express positive and negative emotions, in which languages they swear, and what role emotions play in second language learning. In the second part a study conducted with twenty participants is described. It provides insights into how emotions are important in life of multilinguals when they switch between their languages. The results showed that speakers of several languages are emotionally attached to their first language or their dominant languages. Although they can be linguistically proficient more in their L3, L4 or L5, they still switch to their mother tongue when it comes to the deepest feelings or inner speech, and their dominant language if they live with a partner whose mother tongue is different. Furthermore, the study showed that when it comes to emotions participants use more languages learned in a naturalistic way than languages learned in an instructed way.

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