Changing language, changing personality : Swedish bilinguals on the effects of speaking English

Sammanfattning: Language influences not only the world-view but also the self-perceived personality of its users. One explanation for this is that the language used functions as a cue activating different sets of cultural frames within its users – a phenomenon known as Cultural Frame Shifting (CFS). Limited previous research on language and personality warrants exploring this topic further. The current study employed a qualitative design and semi-structured interviews to explore the views and experiences of 12 Swedish-English bilinguals. Results showed self-perceived changes in personality and extraversion, but also the sentiment of emotions being easier to express in English than in Swedish. Possible practical applications could include therapeutic work and treatment of social anxiety and public speaking anxiety.