Purpuri, Silvia;
Vasta, Nicola;
Filippi, Roberto;
Li, Wei;
Mulatti, Claudio;
(2023)
The Foreign Language Effect on Tolerance of Ambiguity.
Bilingualism: Language and Cognition
(In press).
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Abstract
Previous research has shown that bilingual speakers may be more tolerant to ambiguity, they might perceive situations of ambiguity more interesting, challenging and desirable (e.g., Dewaele & Li, 2013). To our knowledge, no data is available addressing the question whether the language in use can have an effect on the personality trait of tolerance of ambiguity (ToA). This study investigated whether and how reading statements in a second language (L2), as opposed to the native language (L1), affects ToA. 387 Italian/English bilingual adults completed a questionnaire measuring levels of ToA either in English or Italian. Results revealed that processing information in L2 promoted higher scores of ToA overall and in sentences that were related to challenging perspectives and change. Age, gender and L2 proficiency were significant predictors of higher ToA scores. This study offers new evidence that processing information in a L2 can affect tolerance of ambiguous situations.
Type: | Article |
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Title: | The Foreign Language Effect on Tolerance of Ambiguity |
Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
Publisher version: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bilinguali... |
Language: | English |
Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions. |
Keywords: | Foreign Language Effect, Tolerance of Ambiguity, Decision-making, Bilingualism, L2, Second Language, Foreign Language |
UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Psychology and Human Development |
URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10170926 |
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