Language emotionality and the verbal expression of emotional experiences by bilinguals

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the correlates of language emotionality and the verbal expression of emotions in bilingual persons by analysing a selection of research studies. In comparison with another language spoken by a bilingual, the mother tongue is characterised by a greater emotional charge. The emotional power of a language correlates with the age of the person and their emotional experience at the time of its learning as well as the specific cultural context. The language with a greater emotional charge is used to verbally express emotional experiences, specifically in emotionally charged situations and in the case of positive valence of experienced emotions. On the other hand, in the case of negative valence, the less emotional language that offers distance from emotional experience is preferred. In a therapeutic relationship, a bilingual can spontaneously or purposefully switch between languages in order to regulate the intensity of emotional experience. Although therapy with a bilingual client can be challenging for the professional, too, respect for changes in language expression on the part of the client and targeted work with the language context on the part of the therapist are expected.