Title
Speaking as the Romans Do: Potential Effects of New Findings on Foreign Language Proficiency and Expatriate-HCN Relationships for Future Research
Date of Award
Spring 5-20-2023
Document Type
Honors Project
University Scholars Director
Dr. Christine Chaney
First Advisor/Committee Member
Dr. Donghun "Don" Lee
Keywords
host country language proficiency, expatriate, trust, host country national aid, social identity theory, uncertainty avoidance
Abstract
Though language is receiving more attention in the discipline of international business research as a key factor in expatriate and host country national relationships, research and conceptualization of language remains limited. This analysis of literature examines the effects of language proficiency in the field of international business pertaining to host country national and expatriate relationships. It utilizes the observations of Peltokorpi & Pudelko’s 2021 publication “When more is not better: A curvilinear relationship between foreign language proficiency and social categorization”, in which they observed a curvilinear U-shaped relationship between expatriate language proficiency and host country national outgrouping behaviors of host country nationals characterized by high Allocentrism as well as high Uncertainty Avoidance. Using this study and its cultural context as a backdrop, this examination questions expatriate language proficiency’s potential effects on host country national trust and aid of expatriates. Consideration of current studies and data in expatriate adjustment and Social Identity Theory lend consistent observations that relatively high expatriate language proficiency equates to lower host country national trust and aid towards expatriates. Additionally, this article explores how outgrouping behaviors, trust, and aid are related when examining host country national perspectives. This synthesis of current research will be helpful to researchers seeking to empirically address the implications of Peltokorpi & Pudelko’s 2021 publication, as well as managers and expatriates seeking to consider the perspectives of host country nationals.
Recommended Citation
Hoover, Annelise, "Speaking as the Romans Do: Potential Effects of New Findings on Foreign Language Proficiency and Expatriate-HCN Relationships for Future Research" (2023). Honors Projects. 201.
https://digitalcommons.spu.edu/honorsprojects/201
Copyright Status
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Additional Rights Information
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Comments
A project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University Scholars Honors Program.