Influence of Bi- and Multilingualism on the human behaviour

What is a language? Is it merely the way of communication, containing and defining ourselves to others by downsizing our existence to an abstract formation of letters and punctuations? Is it a tool with which we can understand and comprehend the nature of another, or a confusing obstacle there to make us misunderstand another? What happens when the words define us, but the choice is broader? What happens when our inner worlds, and outward expressions, are not in the same language? In this thesis the aim is to explain what has been comprehended from others trying to explain themselves and reach into the effects that bilinguals and multilinguals experience when their worlds of different languages collide, such as emotional distancing, how foreign language can change your moral compass, and how, in regard to your identity, language that you speak may have influence on your cultural and identity observations and formation. The themes that we will be covering are the effects of bilingualism and multilingualism on the persons emotional world, motivation, identity and attitudes regarding their linguistic diversity. The research of these themes is much needed because of the globalization and the ever-increasing need of people to be able to speak multiple languages, whether it is for work reasons, connecting with their families, or their cultural roots. This need of finding a “better place to live” or “better life opportunities” in multiple situations forces us to accommodate and learn the language of the country in which we are a stranger aspiring to be a citizen or at least recognized as a part of.