Criticism in a foreign accent does not hurt less

Abstract

Aims:

Recent findings have shown that a foreign accent affects the emotionality of the speech perceived by native speakers. Moreover, the emotional distance that is generated by foreign languages has been put forward to justify that critiques in a foreign language hurt less than those in a native language. Building on this, we hypothesized that if a foreign accent similarly modulates emotional processing, foreign-accented critiques should elicit a weaker emotional response than those in a native accent condition. The aim of the study was to test this hypothesis.

Methodology:

We conducted two experiments in which native Spanish speakers listened to self-referential critiques (e.g., “Your arms are so weak!”) and praises (e.g., “Your arms are so strong!”) delivered in either a native or a foreign accent. Participants rated the statements on perceived pleasantness (affective evaluation) and truthfulness (cognitive evaluation).

Analysis:

Two different linear mixed effects analyses were conducted to assess (1) whether accent affected the pleasantness level of critiques and praises, and (2) how truthful the participants perceived the praises and critiques they listened to.

Findings:

Across both experiments, results indicated that foreign-accented speech did not influence the emotional impact or perceived truthfulness of the comments.

Originality:

The study is the first to test whether foreign-accented speech modulates the perception of native Spanish speakers of critiques and praises.

Implications:

We discuss the findings within the conflicting literature on foreign-accented speech processing and its cognitive and social consequences.