Hablo inglés y español: Cultural self-schemas as a function of language
Loading...
Date
Authors
Rodríguez Arauz, Gloriana
Ramírez Esparza, Nairán
Pérez Brena, Norma
Boyd, Ryan L.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Research has demonstrated that bilingual individuals experience a “double personality,” which allows them to shift their self-schemas when they are primed with different language modes. In this study, we examine whether self-schemas change in ¿ Mexican-American (N = 193) bilinguals living in the U.S. when they provide open-ended personality self-descriptions in both English and Spanish. We used the Meaning Extraction Helper (MEH) software to extract the most salient self-schemas that influence individuals’ self-defining process. Following a qualitative-inductive approach, words were extracted from the open-ended essays and organized into semantic clusters, which were analyzed qualitatively and named. The results show that as expected, language primed bilinguals to think about different self-schemas. In Spanish, their Mexican self-schemas were more salient; whereas, in English their U.S. American self-schemas were more salient. Similarities of self-schemas across languages were assessed using a quantitative approach. Language differences and similarities in theme definition and implications for self-identity of bilinguals are discussed.
Description
Keywords
language, personality, Mexican-Americans, meaning extraction method, self-schemas