The present paper deals with bilingualism from a „hot” point of view: it seeks the answer to the question whether Hungarian-Serbian bilinguals and monolinguals show differences and variations in empathic skills and emotional intelligence. For measuring these variables we have used a modified language history questionnaire, the Hungarian versions of the Davis Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI-HU) and the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS-HU). The data of 208 individuals from Serbia were analyzed. Comparing individuals who are monolinguals and bilinguals, at present use and know languages at various levels, our results have shown that individuals with higher levels of current language knowledge and frequency of language use rate their skills of evaluating the emotions of others and perspective taking as better.Keywords: benefit; Hungarian-Serbian bilingualism; emotional intelligence; empathy; Serbia---SažetakU ovom radu govori se dvojezičnosti iz „vruće“ perspektive, točnije pokušava se naći odgovor na pitanje pokazuju li mađarsko-srpski dvojezični govornici i jednojezični govornici razlike i varijacije u vještinama empatije i emocionalne inteligencije. Za mjerenje spomenutih varijabli, koristili smo prilagođeni upitnik o jezičnoj povijesti, mađarsku verziju Davisova Indeksa interpersonalne reaktivnosti (IRI-HU), te Wong i Law Skalu emocionalne inteligencije (WLEIS-HU). Analizirani su podatci dobiveni od 208 ispitanika u Republici Srbiji. Uspoređujući pojedince koji su jednojezični i dvojezični, koji trenutačno koriste i znaju svoje jezike na različitim razinama, rezultati su pokazali da osobe s višim razinama znanja jezika i većom učestalošću trenutačnoga korištenja jezika procjenjuju kao bolje svoje vještine procjene emocija drugih osoba te vještinu promjene perspektive. Ključne riječi: emocionalna inteligencija, empatija, korist, mađarsko-srpska dvojezičnost; Srbija
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