Emotional Dialects in the Language of Emotion

Abstract

This paper discusses classic and recent findings on the cross-cultural communication of emotions, highlighting the dialect theory of emotion. Dialect theory uses a linguistic metaphor to argue emotion is a universal language with dialects that have subtle differences from each other. As in verbal language, it is more challenging to understand someone speaking a different dialect. This notion is meant to integrate decades of empirical findings. Notably, research supports an in-group advantage, whereby individuals are more accurate judging emotional expressions from their own cultural group versus foreign cultural groups. Dialect theory has at times been controversial due to its implications for dominant theories about cross-cultural differences in emotion. This chapter reviews dialect theory and discusses the mounting body of evidence in favor of it, evidence for alternative accounts, and practical implications for societies that are increasingly multicultural.