English language and linguistics research seminar: Alexandra Dylman, Mälardalen University: The foreign language effect: The role of language in emotion and cognition.

How language and emotion interact with each other, and how language context affects behaviour and attitudes, has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. The main finding in the literature is that of stronger emotional connections to words, sentences, and expressions in one’s native language (L1), as compared to a second or foreign language (L2). Relatedly, studies have found that bilinguals making decisions in their L2 make more rational decisions when faced with problem solving tasks, and make more utilitarian choices when faced with moral dilemmas, a phenomenon commonly referred to as the foreign language effect. In this talk, I will present data from a number of studies examining these issues in a Swedish population. Together, these studies offer insight into the role of language for emotion, decision making and cognition.