Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of using foreign languages on cooperative behavior in a prisoner’s dilemma setting. The cultural accommodation hypothesis suggests that people are less cooperative in English, associated with the Anglophone cultural cluster, than in French, which is – as is Belgium – associated with the more cooperative Latin European cultural cluster.
Design/methodology/approach
Choices are framed as pricing strategies in the context of duopolistic competition. In total, 422 Flemish-Belgium participants with English and French as foreign and Dutch as their native language played in one of three language treatments.
Findings
While the authors observe differences between the native and both foreign languages, which are moderated by gender, the authors do not find any difference in effects between the two foreign languages that are associated with different cultures. Extending cultural accommodation arguments, the data suggests an effect specific to the use of the two selected foreign languages.
Originality/value
The authors contribute to this literature by reporting an experimental test of cultural accommodation and alienation effects related to two foreign languages. The authors explore novel arguments, related to cognitive psychology and gender effects.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 167-191 |
| Journal | Cross-Cultural and Strategic Management |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2017 |
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Keywords
- cultural accommodation
- cultural alienation
- foreign language effect
- gender effect
- lab experiment
Cite this
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Cooperating or competing in three languages : Cultural accommodation or alienation? / Gargalianou, Vasiliki; Urbig, D.; van Witteloostuijn, Arjen.
In: Cross-Cultural and Strategic Management, Vol. 24, No. 1, 01.2017, p. 167-191.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cooperating or competing in three languages
T2 - Cultural accommodation or alienation?
AU - Gargalianou, Vasiliki
AU - Urbig, D.
AU - van Witteloostuijn, Arjen
PY - 2017/1
Y1 - 2017/1
N2 - PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the effect of using foreign languages on cooperative behavior in a prisoner’s dilemma setting. The cultural accommodation hypothesis suggests that people are less cooperative in English, associated with the Anglophone cultural cluster, than in French, which is – as is Belgium – associated with the more cooperative Latin European cultural cluster.Design/methodology/approachChoices are framed as pricing strategies in the context of duopolistic competition. In total, 422 Flemish-Belgium participants with English and French as foreign and Dutch as their native language played in one of three language treatments.FindingsWhile the authors observe differences between the native and both foreign languages, which are moderated by gender, the authors do not find any difference in effects between the two foreign languages that are associated with different cultures. Extending cultural accommodation arguments, the data suggests an effect specific to the use of the two selected foreign languages.Originality/valueThe authors contribute to this literature by reporting an experimental test of cultural accommodation and alienation effects related to two foreign languages. The authors explore novel arguments, related to cognitive psychology and gender effects.
AB - PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the effect of using foreign languages on cooperative behavior in a prisoner’s dilemma setting. The cultural accommodation hypothesis suggests that people are less cooperative in English, associated with the Anglophone cultural cluster, than in French, which is – as is Belgium – associated with the more cooperative Latin European cultural cluster.Design/methodology/approachChoices are framed as pricing strategies in the context of duopolistic competition. In total, 422 Flemish-Belgium participants with English and French as foreign and Dutch as their native language played in one of three language treatments.FindingsWhile the authors observe differences between the native and both foreign languages, which are moderated by gender, the authors do not find any difference in effects between the two foreign languages that are associated with different cultures. Extending cultural accommodation arguments, the data suggests an effect specific to the use of the two selected foreign languages.Originality/valueThe authors contribute to this literature by reporting an experimental test of cultural accommodation and alienation effects related to two foreign languages. The authors explore novel arguments, related to cognitive psychology and gender effects.
KW - cultural accommodation
KW - cultural alienation
KW - foreign language effect
KW - gender effect
KW - lab experiment
U2 - 10.1108/CCSM-01-2016-0008
DO - 10.1108/CCSM-01-2016-0008
M3 - Article
VL - 24
SP - 167
EP - 191
JO - Cross-Cultural and Strategic Management
JF - Cross-Cultural and Strategic Management
SN - 2059-5794
IS - 1
ER -