A recent scientific study showed that using a second language may affect a person's view of their personal traits and values, but it does not necessarily lead to changing their decisions or behavior in situations requiring moral choices.
The British website The Conversation, which specializes in publishing academic articles and analyses, reported on Wednesday that the study was conducted by researchers from Spain's Antonio de Nebrija University and University College London in the UK, focusing on the impact of the language used on an individual's self-perception and evaluation of certain personal values.
Research Methodology and Participants
The study included 106 native Greek speakers who had intermediate or advanced levels of English, and were presented with four scenarios requiring moral decisions, involving sacrificing one life to save others, honesty in a CV when applying for a job, and dealing with a case of infidelity.
Half of the participants completed the tests in Greek, while the other half did so in English, and they also answered questionnaires regarding the importance of honesty and integrity in their self-perception.
Results and Interpretation
The results showed that using a second language did not produce a significant difference in the decisions made regarding the presented scenarios, but it revealed differences in participants' assessment of their personal traits, as those who used Greek placed greater importance on honesty and integrity when describing themselves.
Researchers suggest this may be due to the mother tongue being linked to childhood memories, family, and the social environment, where moral values and concepts such as honesty, justice, and responsibility are formed.
Emotional Impacts and Identity
The results also showed that individuals who consider these traits an essential part of their identity exhibited stronger emotional responses to situations conflicting with them, and were more inclined to reject dishonest or harmful behaviors.
Researchers noted that some participants reported stronger emotional feelings when using English, despite this not being reflected in the decisions they made.
The study highlights the relationship between language and personal identity, indicating that the language used may affect how a person perceives themselves and their values, without necessarily implying a change in their behavior or decisions.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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