Effects of tropical climate and language format on imagery ability among French-Creole Bilinguals

ABSTRACT

This study examined how a tropical climate (i.e. hot and wet climatic environment) and different language instructions, in French and in Creole, could affect imagery ability on French-Creole bilingual in the French West Indies. Participants were divided into two groups: Half of them completed the French Movement Imagery Questionnaire (MIQ-F), the others realized the Creole version (MIQ-C), in Neutral Climate (NC) then in Tropical Climate (TC). The results of this original study showed that participants had lower visual and kinaesthetic MIQ-F and kinaesthetic MIQ-C imagery scores, but had higher visual MIQ-C imagery scores, in TC than in NC. Poor imagers had significant lower kinaesthetic MIQ-F, and better visual MIQ-C imagery scores in TC than in NC. The results of this study suggested that imagery language instruction can modulate the influence of tropical climate on imagery ability. The difference between Creole and French language effects on cognition as imagery is discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Imagery ability
• bilingual
• French-Creole
• tropical environment

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge all the participants of the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nicolas Robin

Nicolas Robin is a Senior Lecturer in the Sport Science Faculty, University des Antilles. He holds a PhD in cognitive psychology from Poitiers University in France. Dr Robin (MCF) has conducted research focusing on motor imagery, cognition, motor learning, environmental stress and language.

Frederic Anciaux

Frederic Anciaux is an Associate Professor in the INSPE of Guadeloupe, University des Antilles. He holds a PhD in cognitive psychology from Antilles Guyane University in France. Dr Anciaux (MCF-HDR) has conducted research focusing on language, communication, dual codes, multi-lingualism and learning.

Guillaume R. Coudevylle

Guillaume R. Coudevylle is an Associate Professor in the Sport Science Faculty, University des Antilles. He holds a PhD in social psychology from Paris-Sud University in France. Dr Coudevylle (MCF-HDR) has conducted research focusing onself-handicapping strategies, motivational climates, anxiety environmental stress and language.