Cover not available
Part of
Advances in Interdisciplinary Language Policy
Edited by François Grin, László Marácz and Nike K. Pokorn
[Studies in World Language Problems 9] 2022
► pp. 509–530

Chapter 25
Multilingualism and creativity

An integrative approach

| University of Geneva
| University of Geneva
This chapter investigates the relations between multilingualism, multicultural experience and creativity at both a theoretical and an empirical level. Starting with a general discussion about the cost and benefits of linguistic diversity, we argue that one of the benefits of multilingualism is enhanced creativity and, hence, a greater potential for innovation. After introducing formal definitions of multilingualism and creativity, both of which are complex and can prove difficult to conceptualize and operationalize, we discuss previous research on bilingualism and creativity, as well as on multicultural experience and creativity. We synthesize this literature and identify its strengths and limitations. A key issue is that the impact of bilingualism/multilingualism and multicultural experience on creativity had never been studied jointly so far. The empirical section of the paper then estimates multivariate models with a large sample (n = 596). Results shows that both multilingualism and multicultural experience are positively associated with creativity, with standardized effect sizes ranging from .20 to .50 depending on specification. These results are discussed in methodological and theoretical perspective. We discuss implications for language policy, as well as the challenges related to causal inference and the possible generalization of these results at the group level.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Psychometric approaches in the MIME framework
  • 3.Key concepts and definitions
    • 3.1Definition of multilingualism
    • 3.2Defining creativity
    • 3.3The challenge of creativity assessment
  • 4.Multilingualism and creativity
    • 4.1Literature review
      • Bilingualism and cognition
      • Bilingualism and creativity
      • Multicultural experience and creativity
      • Strengths and limitations of past research
    • 4.2Method
      • Participants
      • Procedure
      • Instruments
        • Analyses
    • 4.3Results
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 21 January 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/wlp.9.25fur
References (36)
References
Barbu, Cristina, Orban, Sarah, Gillet, Sophie & Poncelet, Martine, 2018. ‘The Impact of Language Switching Frequency on Attentional and Executive Functioning in Proficient Bilingual Adults’. PsychologicaBelgica 58(1):115–27. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Bialystok, Ellen, 2001. Bilingualism in Development: Language, Literacy, and Cognition. Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
, 2017. ‘The Bilingual Adaptation: How Minds Accommodate Experience’. Psychological Bulletin 143(3):233–62. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Bink, Martin L. & Marsh, Richard L., 2000. ‘Cognitive regularities in creative activity’. Review of General Psychology 4(1):59–78. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Carson, Shelley H., Peterson, Jordan B. & Higgins, Daniel M., 2005. ‘Reliability, Validity, and Factor Structure of the Creative Achievement Questionnaire’. Creativity Research Journal 17(1):37–50.Google Scholar
Edwards, John, 2012. Multilingualism: Understanding Linguistic Diversity. 1st Edition. London ; New York: Continuum.Google Scholar
Evans, Charles R. & Dion, Kenneth L., 1991. ‘Group Cohesion and Performance A Meta-Analysis’. Small Group Research 22(2):175–86. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Feist, Gregory J, 1998. ‘A meta-analysis of personality in scientific and artistic creativity’. Personality and Social Psychology Review 2(4):290–309. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Finke, Ronald A., Ward, Thomas B. & Smith, Steven M., 1992. Creative cognition: Theory, research, and applications. Cambridge, MA, US: MIT Press.Google Scholar
Fürst, Guillaume & Grin, François, 2018a. ‘A Comprehensive Method for the Measurement of Everyday Creativity’. Thinking Skills and Creativity 28:84–97. DOI logo.Google Scholar
, 2018b. ‘Multilingualism and creativity: a multivariate approach’. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 39(4):341–55. DOI logo.Google Scholar
, 2021. ‘Multicultural experience and multilingualism as predictors of creativity’. International Journal of Bilingualism. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Gazzola, Michele, Grin, François & Vaillancourt, François, 2020. ‘The Economic Evaluation of Language Policy and Planning: An Introduction to Existing Work’. p. 109–39 in Bridging Linguistics and Economics, in S. Mufwene & C. Vigouroux, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Ghonsooly, Behzad & Showqi, Sara, 2012. ‘The Effects of Foreign Language Learning on Creativity’. English Language Teaching 5(4):161–67. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Grin, François, 2019. ‘Economics and Language Contact’ in J. Darquennes, J. C. Salmons & W. Vandenbussche (Eds),Language Contact. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton, 707–18.Google Scholar
, 2020: ‘Misconceptions of economics and political economy in sociolinguistic research’, in J. Petrovic & B. Yazan (Eds.), Capitalization of Language: Ideology, Policy, and Identity. London: Routledge, in press.Google Scholar
Grin, François, Amos, Jacques, Faniko, Klea & Fürst, Guillaume, 2015. Société multiculturelle: Suisse – Schweiz – Svizzera: ce qu’en font les jeunes aujourd’hui: aus der Sicht der heutigenJugend: dal punto di vista dei giovanni di oggi. Glarus: Edition Rüegger.Google Scholar
Grin, François & Faniko, Klea, 2012. ‘Foreign language skills and intercultural abilities: Operationalization with a large population’. Management Avenir n° 55(5):168–84. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Guilford, Paul J, 1950. ‘Creativity’. American Psychologist 5:444–54. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Kharkhurin, Anatoliy V, 2008. ‘The effect of linguistic proficiency, age of second language acquisition, and length of exposure to a new cultural environment on bilinguals’ divergent thinking’. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition 11(02):225–43. DOI logo.Google Scholar
, 2009. ‘The Role of Bilingualism in Creative Performance on Divergent Thinking and Invented Alien Creatures Tests’. The Journal of Creative Behavior 43(1):59–71. DOI logo.Google Scholar
, 2012. Multilingualism and Creativity. Bristol, UK: Multilingual Matters. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Lehtonen, Minna, Soveri, Anna, Laine, Aini, Järvenpää, Janica, de Bruin, Angela & Antfolk, Jan, 2018. ‘Is Bilingualism Associated with Enhanced Executive Functioning in Adults? A Meta-Analytic Review’. Psychological Bulletin 144(4):394–425. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Leung, Angela K.-Y. & Chiu, Chi-yue, 2008. ‘Interactive Effects of Multicultural Experiences and Openness to Experience on Creative Potential’. Creativity Research Journal 20(4): 376–82. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
MacSwan, Jeff, 2017. ‘A Multilingual Perspective on Translanguaging’. American Educational Research Journal 54(1):167–201. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Maddux, William W. & Galinsky, Adam D., 2009. ‘Cultural borders and mental barriers: The relationship between living abroad and creativity. ‘Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 96(5):1047–61. DOI logo.Google Scholar
McCrae, Robert R, 1987. ‘Creativity, divergent thinking, and openness to experience’. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 52:1258–65. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Mednick, S. A, 1962. ‘The associative basis of the creative process’. Psychological Review 3:220–32. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Nemeth, Charlan Jeanne & Nemeth-Brown, Brendan, 2003. ‘Better than individuals? The potential benefits of dissent and diversity for group creativity’. In P. B. Paulus & B. A. Nijstad (Eds) Group creativity: Innovation through collaboration. New York, NY, US: Oxford University Press, 63–84. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Okoh, Nduka, 1980. ‘Bilingualism and Divergent Thinking among Nigerian and Welsh School Children’. The Journal of Social Psychology 110(2):163–70. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Rindermann, H. & Neubauer, Aljoscha C., 2004. ‘Processing speed, intelligence, creativity, and school performance: Testing of causal hypotheses using structural equation models’. Intelligence 32(6):573–89. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Root-Bernstein, Robert & Root-Bernstein, Michele, 2004. ‘Artistic Scientists and Scientific Artists: The Link Between Polymathy and Creativity’ in R. J. Sternberg, E. L. Grigorenko & J. L. Singer (Eds) Creativity:From potential to realization. Washington, DC US: American Psychological Association, 127–151. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Runco, Mark A., 2013. Divergent Thinking and Creative Potential. New York: Hampton Press.Google Scholar
Singleton, David & Aronin, Larissa, 2007. ‘Multiple Language Learning in the Light of the Theory of Affordances’. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching 1(1):83–96. DOI logo.Google Scholar
Smith, Steven M., Ward, Thomas B. & Finke, Ronald A. (Eds), 1995. The Creative Cognition Approach. Cambridge: Bradford MIT Press.Google Scholar
Sternberg, Robert J., Grigorenko, Elena L. & Singer, Jerome L., (Eds), 2004. Creativity: From Potential to Realization. Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association. DOI logoGoogle Scholar