Host country language ability and expatriate adjustment: the moderating effect of language difficulty

Abstract

Research has shown that expatriates' host country language ability is positively associated with their adjustment. But does the advantage of expatriates' language ability depend on the difficulty of the host language? To examine this issue, data were collected from expatriates in two European countries, one with an easy, relatively simple language and the other with a difficult, highly complex language. Consistent with Goal-Setting Theory, results indicated a relative advantage of expatriates' language ability in terms of their adjustment in the host country with the difficult language as opposed to the host country with an easy language.

Keywords::

• expatriate adjustment
• goal-setting theory
• host country language ability
• language difficulty
• moderating effect

Notes

^1. This point was suggested by an anonymous reviewer on an earlier version of the manuscript.