Multilingualism and creativity: a multivariate approach

ABSTRACT

This paper proposes a contribution to the investigation of the relation between multilingualism and creativity. Past evidence of a correlation between multilingualism and creativity is reviewed in a generalist perspective, that is, without focusing on a specific population such as migrants or highly proficient bilinguals. This review is also anchored in contemporary cognitive psychology and specialised research on creativity, allowing for a consideration of different levels and domains of creativity, as well as a distinction between creative potential and manifest creativity. On this basis, we test various hypotheses with a sample of 596 participants, using multiple regressions that incorporate several control variables. Key results show that L2 skills are systematically and positively related to virtually all indicators of creativity. Additional results reveal effects of other linguistic variables, along with effects of control variables related to cultural diversity (travelling and experience of living abroad), as well as interactions between linguistic and control variables. These results are contrasted with earlier findings and then discussed in terms of language policy implications and perspectives for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Multilingualism
• plurilingualism
• creativity
• advantages of bilingualism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Although ‘plurilingualism’ is increasingly used when referring to individual language repertoires, the term ‘multilingualism’ is more common. Therefore, we have opted to retain the latter in order to ensure continuity with earlier research as well as with the notion of multiculturalism. Wherever necessary, we explicitly make the difference between individual and societal multilingualism.

2 The very diverse language repertoires and nationalities represented in the sample is unsurprising, and reflects the fact that its two bigger waves of the sample were collected in Switzerland, a country with four official languages where over 20% of residents are non-nationals.

3 The descriptors themselves, tested in previous, trilingual large-scale studies are shorter than the standard CEFRL ones, but better suited to survey approaches.

Additional information

Funding

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement No. 613344 (Project MIME).