BILINGUALISM AND EMOTION: DO PEOPLE FEEL DIFFERENTLY IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES? Exploring the Emotional Landscape of Multilingual Minds

This study aims to investigate the effects of bilingualism on emotional experiences. For many years, the role of language in how individuals experience and express their emotions has been explored by disciplines as diverse as psychology, neurology, and sociolinguistics. This study examines whether emotions are felt at different intensities in different languages in the context of bilingualism. The starting point of research is the assumption that individuals can experience the same emotion in their native language and second language in different ways. Language is not only a means of communication, but also a powerful cognitive mechanism that shapes thought and emotion processes. Therefore, it is assumed that the emotional experiences of bilingual individuals may vary depending on the language they use. The study applied a survey method to 15-20 participants and examined which language expressed the participants' emotional expressions more easily, warmly, and intensely. Acquired data shows that a significant portion of participants express their feelings more intimately in their native language, but in some cases, the second language creates emotional distance and allows individuals to express themselves more easily. Among the findings is that cultural context and language norms play a crucial role in emotional experiences. As a result, the relationship between bilingualism and emotion is formed not only by the level of linguistic competence of the individual, but also by cultural affiliation and psychological factors. By shedding light on the complex relationship between language and emotion, this study helps to understand the emotional dimension of bilingualism in both linguistics and psychology.