Taboo words and reprimands elicit greater autonomic reactivity in a first language than in a second language

Abstract

Second language speakers commonly acknowledge that taboo terms can be uttered with greater ease in their second language (L2) than in their first language (L1). To investigate this phenomenon psychophysiologically, 32 Turkish-English bilinguals rated a variety of stimuli for pleasantness in Turkish (L1) and English (L2) while skin conductance was monitored via fingertip electrodes. Participants demonstrated greater autonomic arousal to taboo words and childhood reprimands ("Shame on you!") in their L1 compared to their L2. This finding provides quantifiable support for the subjective experiences of L2 speakers.

Self-reported use and perception of the L1 and L2 among maximally proficient bi- and multilinguals: a quantitative and qualitative investigation

“…Statistical analyses revealed that emotional force was significantly higher in the L1 and was gradually reduced in languages learned later in life. This confirmed earlier research showing higher emotionality of the L1 compared to languages acquired later (see Dewaele and Pavlenko 2002;Pavlenko 2005;Harris et al 2003). Participants who learned their language(s) in a naturalistic -or mixed -context rated the emotional force of swear words in that language higher than participants who had learned a language only through classroom instruction.…”

“…Using lie-detector technology, Harris et al (2003) investigated the skin conductance responses of 32 Turkish-English bilingual university students with Turkish as their L1, compared with English as their L2. Physiological reactions to taboo words that were read aloud in Turkish were found to be much stronger than their translation equivalents in English.…”

Emotionality in a second language: It's a matter of time

“…"), or reprimands (e.g., "Shut up!") in L2 as compared to L1 (Harris et al, 2003;Harris, 2004). Such psychophysiological data substantiate the subjective experience of a different sense of emotionality in L1 and L2.…”

Lying in a native and foreign language

“…The authors interpreted their findings in line with evidence pointing to reduced emotionality in a nonnative language (see Caldwell-Harris & Aycicegi-Dinn, 2009, Experiment 1; see also Harris et al, 2003), which could have been partially responsible for a reduction of the psychophysical impact of deceptive speech in a foreign language. This view has been recently endorsed by studies demonstrating that decisionmaking processes sensitive to emotional reactions are modulated as a function of the language in which they are framed (native vs. foreign).…”