ERIC Number: EJ1159031
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-0419
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Influence of a Foreign versus Native Language on Creativity
Stephan, Elena
Creativity Research Journal, v29 n4 p426-432 2017
Creativity may be enhanced by contextual factors that contribute to a divergence from conventional and habitual modes of thought. Two studies tested the prediction that a foreign language (that is frequently associated with moving away from the routine experiences) will contribute to originality of solutions, compared to one's native language. Findings demonstrate that a foreign language confers benefits for creativity on well-established "nonverbal tasks." Participants were more creative in designing t-shirt outlines (Study 1) and in drawing an alien character for a story (Study 2) within the context of their foreign, as compared to the native, language. The potential underlying mechanisms and implications of the effect are discussed.
Descriptors: Second Language Learning, Native Language, Correlation, Comparative Analysis, Context Effect, Creative Thinking, Nonverbal Ability, Task Analysis, Freehand Drawing, Semitic Languages, English (Second Language), Statistical Analysis, Undergraduate Students, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Israel
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A