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Chapter 25. Multilingualism and creativity

An integrative approach
  • Guillaume Fürst and François Grin
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Advances in Interdisciplinary Language Policy
This chapter is in the book Advances in Interdisciplinary Language Policy

Abstract

This chapter investigates the relations between multilingualism, multicultural experience and creativity at both a theoretical and an empirical level. Starting with a general discussion about the cost and benefits of linguistic diversity, we argue that one of the benefits of multilingualism is enhanced creativity and, hence, a greater potential for innovation. After introducing formal definitions of multilingualism and creativity, both of which are complex and can prove difficult to conceptualize and operationalize, we discuss previous research on bilingualism and creativity, as well as on multicultural experience and creativity. We synthesize this literature and identify its strengths and limitations. A key issue is that the impact of bilingualism/multilingualism and multicultural experience on creativity had never been studied jointly so far. The empirical section of the paper then estimates multivariate models with a large sample (n = 596). Results shows that both multilingualism and multicultural experience are positively associated with creativity, with standardized effect sizes ranging from .20 to .50 depending on specification. These results are discussed in methodological and theoretical perspective. We discuss implications for language policy, as well as the challenges related to causal inference and the possible generalization of these results at the group level.

Abstract

This chapter investigates the relations between multilingualism, multicultural experience and creativity at both a theoretical and an empirical level. Starting with a general discussion about the cost and benefits of linguistic diversity, we argue that one of the benefits of multilingualism is enhanced creativity and, hence, a greater potential for innovation. After introducing formal definitions of multilingualism and creativity, both of which are complex and can prove difficult to conceptualize and operationalize, we discuss previous research on bilingualism and creativity, as well as on multicultural experience and creativity. We synthesize this literature and identify its strengths and limitations. A key issue is that the impact of bilingualism/multilingualism and multicultural experience on creativity had never been studied jointly so far. The empirical section of the paper then estimates multivariate models with a large sample (n = 596). Results shows that both multilingualism and multicultural experience are positively associated with creativity, with standardized effect sizes ranging from .20 to .50 depending on specification. These results are discussed in methodological and theoretical perspective. We discuss implications for language policy, as well as the challenges related to causal inference and the possible generalization of these results at the group level.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. List of contributors xi
  5. Part I. Setting the scene
  6. Chapter 1. General introduction 3
  7. Chapter 2. Principles of integrated language policy 23
  8. Part II. Politics
  9. Chapter 3. Cross-jurisdictional linguistic cooperation in multilingual federations 45
  10. Chapter 4. How to upgrade the status of migrant languages in the European Union 67
  11. Chapter 5. Inclusion and mobility in the multilingual region of Vojvodina 87
  12. Part III. Society
  13. Chapter 6. Language and inclusion in a multilingual environment 111
  14. Chapter 7. The politics of inclusion, citizenship and multilingualism 129
  15. Chapter 8. Urban multilingualism 151
  16. Part IV. Education
  17. Chapter 9. Metalinguistic awareness in education as a tool for enhancing social inclusion 173
  18. Chapter 10. Educational capacity-building for linguistic inclusion and mobility 195
  19. Chapter 11. Higher education language policies for mobility and inclusion 215
  20. Part V. Mediation
  21. Chapter 12. Portraying linguistic exclusion 237
  22. Chapter 13. Migrants’ attitudes towards community interpreting 257
  23. Chapter 14. The language choices of exchange students 275
  24. Chapter 15. The role of intercomprehension in short-term mobility experiences in multilingual contexts 297
  25. Part VI. Policy
  26. Chapter 16. Effectiveness of policy measures and language dynamics 319
  27. Chapter 17. The ontology of the linguistic territoriality principle 343
  28. Chapter 18. Justifying language policies in mobile societies 361
  29. Chapter 19. Complexity in language matters 381
  30. Chapter 20. Language, mobility and inclusion 405
  31. Part VII. Frontiers of multilingualism
  32. Chapter 21. Multilingualism and security 427
  33. Chapter 22. Multilingualism and consumer protection 451
  34. Chapter 23. ‘Learning all from all’ 473
  35. Chapter 24. Language use in international retirement migration 487
  36. Chapter 25. Multilingualism and creativity 509
  37. Chapter 26. Does global English influence the perception of professional ethical dilemmas? 531
  38. Author index 555
  39. Subject index 565
https://doi.org/10.1075/wlp.9.25fur

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. List of contributors xi
  5. Part I. Setting the scene
  6. Chapter 1. General introduction 3
  7. Chapter 2. Principles of integrated language policy 23
  8. Part II. Politics
  9. Chapter 3. Cross-jurisdictional linguistic cooperation in multilingual federations 45
  10. Chapter 4. How to upgrade the status of migrant languages in the European Union 67
  11. Chapter 5. Inclusion and mobility in the multilingual region of Vojvodina 87
  12. Part III. Society
  13. Chapter 6. Language and inclusion in a multilingual environment 111
  14. Chapter 7. The politics of inclusion, citizenship and multilingualism 129
  15. Chapter 8. Urban multilingualism 151
  16. Part IV. Education
  17. Chapter 9. Metalinguistic awareness in education as a tool for enhancing social inclusion 173
  18. Chapter 10. Educational capacity-building for linguistic inclusion and mobility 195
  19. Chapter 11. Higher education language policies for mobility and inclusion 215
  20. Part V. Mediation
  21. Chapter 12. Portraying linguistic exclusion 237
  22. Chapter 13. Migrants’ attitudes towards community interpreting 257
  23. Chapter 14. The language choices of exchange students 275
  24. Chapter 15. The role of intercomprehension in short-term mobility experiences in multilingual contexts 297
  25. Part VI. Policy
  26. Chapter 16. Effectiveness of policy measures and language dynamics 319
  27. Chapter 17. The ontology of the linguistic territoriality principle 343
  28. Chapter 18. Justifying language policies in mobile societies 361
  29. Chapter 19. Complexity in language matters 381
  30. Chapter 20. Language, mobility and inclusion 405
  31. Part VII. Frontiers of multilingualism
  32. Chapter 21. Multilingualism and security 427
  33. Chapter 22. Multilingualism and consumer protection 451
  34. Chapter 23. ‘Learning all from all’ 473
  35. Chapter 24. Language use in international retirement migration 487
  36. Chapter 25. Multilingualism and creativity 509
  37. Chapter 26. Does global English influence the perception of professional ethical dilemmas? 531
  38. Author index 555
  39. Subject index 565
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