A Psycholinguistic Perspective on Bilinguals' Discrepant Questionnaire Responses

Abstract

The Finding That Bilinguals Sometimes Respond Differently To The Same Item In Different Language Versions Of Questionnaires Is Usually Interpreted In Terms Of Social Psychological Processes Such As Accommodation, Ethnic Affirmation, Or Social Desirability. However, The Discrepant Responses Of Bilinguals May Be A Function Of The Way In Which The Languages Have Been Acquired. In Terms Of The Dual-Coding Model, Compound Bilinguals Should Have The Same Images Related To Interlingual Equivalents, Whereas Coordinate Bilinguals Should Function More Like Unilinguals, Since Their Two Conceptual Systems, Acquired Through Each Language, Are Clearly Differentiated. Thus Differences In Responses To Questionnaires In Two Different Languages Should Occur In Bilinguals Who Are Of A More Compound Type. Results Of A Study Testing This Hypothesis Are Reported.