Work

Using a Foreign Language Does Not Make the Art More Profound—Familiarity Does

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT This study investigated whether using a foreign language affects aesthetic judgments of art. Across three experiments ( N = 345), Polish–English and Dutch–English bilinguals rated songs and paintings on profoundness, liking, recommendation, and familiarity. Participants completed the study in either their native or foreign language, allowing us to examine the Foreign Language Effect on judgments of both language‐rich content (songs with lyrics) and language‐poor content (paintings). Contrary to theoretical predictions based on reduced emotional engagement and impaired metacognition in foreign languages, presentation language did not significantly affect any ratings. Instead, two factors consistently predicted profoundness judgments: familiarity and medium. Participants rated familiar artworks as more profound regardless of language condition, and music received higher profoundness ratings than paintings across all experiments. These findings suggest that aesthetic perception is primarily driven by prior exposure and medium‐specific characteristics rather than the language in which art is encountered, challenging assumptions about linguistic effects on aesthetic judgments.

Source: International Journal of Applied Linguistics

DOI: 10.1111/ijal.70101

Authors: Wojciech Milczarski, Anna Borkowska, Susanne Brouwer, Michał Białek

Institutions: University of Wrocław, University College of Professional Education, Radboud University Nijmegen, Center for Language Studies

Language: English

Topic: Aesthetic Perception and Analysis

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Narodowe Centrum Nauki

Award: G6345093447