Cultural Differences in Emotional Expression: How Language Influences Feelings

Sunday, October 13, 2024.

Emotions are universal, but the way we express and interpret them is shaped by our cultural background and, most importantly, our language. This is perhaps a factor which Attachment Theory undervalued.

Different cultures teach us how to feel, articulate, and communicate emotions, which can lead to surprising differences in how we perceive and express even the most basic human experiences like happiness, sadness, or anger.

The words we have, the traditions we follow, and the social norms we observe all play a critical role in shaping emotional expression.

In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into how cultural differences influence emotional expression, focusing specifically on the role of language.

We’ll explore key distinctions between cultures, discuss a few examples, and how language frames emotional experience.

By understanding these differences, you might improve your communication across cultures and gain a deeper appreciation for how emotions are woven into the fabric of different societies.

How Language Shapes Emotional Expression

The language we speak influences not just how we communicate emotions but how we experience them. Different languages have unique words for emotional states that don’t exist in other languages, leading to varied emotional landscapes for people from different cultural backgrounds.

This is the core idea behind linguistic relativity, which suggests that language shapes our reality—including our emotional reality.

For example:

• Tingo (Pascuense, from Easter Island): This word refers to the act of borrowing items from a friend’s house one by one until nothing is left, but it also conveys a mix of guilt, need, and social expectation. There’s no equivalent in English, which means English speakers may not fully grasp the cultural or emotional complexity of this experience.

• Lítost (Czech): A word without a direct translation in English, it describes a feeling of sorrow, regret, and an almost existential pain, often mixed with self-pity. This word captures a depth of emotion that might be harder to express in other languages.

Language not only provides the vocabulary for specific emotional states, but it also shapes the intensity and importance of those emotions within a culture. For instance, cultures with a rich emotional lexicon are more likely to encourage the exploration and communication of nuanced emotional experiences.

Cultural Variations in Emotional Expression

In addition to linguistic differences, the way cultures encourage or suppress emotional expression also varies widely. Two of the most prominent frameworks for understanding this are high-context vs. low-context cultures and individualistic vs. collectivistic cultures.

High-Context vs. Low-Context Cultures: Emotional Expression in Action

The way emotions are communicated in high-context versus low-context cultures can drastically differ. These terms, introduced by anthropologist Edward Hall (1976), describe how much communication relies on context versus explicit verbal information. This distinction also applies to emotional expression.

• High-Context Cultures (e.g., Japan, China, Saudi Arabia): In these cultures, much of the emotional meaning is implied rather than explicitly stated. Non-verbal cues, silence, and subtle hints are often used to convey emotions, and direct emotional outbursts might be seen as inappropriate or disrespectful. For example, in Japanese culture, the concept of honne (true feelings) and tatemae (public behavior) illustrates the cultural norm of withholding personal feelings to maintain social harmony.

• Low-Context Cultures (e.g., United States, Germany, Australia): In these cultures, emotional expression tends to be more explicit. People are encouraged to express their feelings openly and directly. American culture, for instance, places a high value on transparency and individual expression, so emotions such as happiness, anger, or sadness are often shared freely.

Imagine a business meeting where one partner is from a high-context culture like Japan, and the other is from a low-context culture like the U.S.

The American partner might expect open discussion of feelings or disagreements, while the Japanese partner may remain silent or give indirect cues that something is wrong.

This difference can lead to misunderstandings if both parties aren't aware of the cultural context behind emotional expression.

Individualistic vs. Collectivistic Cultures: The Role of the Group

Cultures can also be categorized as individualistic or collectivistic, and this distinction greatly influences how emotions are expressed and interpreted. This framework, studied extensively by Geert Hofstede (1980), helps explain why some cultures prioritize individual emotional expression while others suppress emotions in favor of group harmony.

• Individualistic Cultures (e.g., United States, Canada, United Kingdom): These cultures emphasize personal freedom, self-expression, and autonomy. People are encouraged to express their emotions openly because doing so aligns with values of individuality and self-determination. In relationships, people from individualistic cultures may prioritize personal emotional fulfillment and transparency.

• Collectivistic Cultures (e.g., China, Korea, Mexico): In these cultures, the needs of the group—whether family, community, or society—take precedence over individual desires. Emotional restraint is often practiced to maintain group harmony. In collectivistic cultures, it is more common for people to suppress emotions like anger or frustration in public to avoid creating discord.

For example, in South Korea, emotional outbursts, especially in public, are often avoided to preserve group harmony.

A South Korean might show restraint in a conflict situation, while an American partner might express their emotions more freely. Without understanding the cultural context, the American partner might perceive the South Korean’s emotional restraint as indifference, while the South Korean might view the American’s openness as disruptive.

The Influence of Language on Specific Emotions

Different languages and cultures don’t just shape how we express emotions—they shape which emotions we feel and how important those emotions are. Consider how some languages have specific words for emotional experiences that don’t exist in others.

Sadness and Longing: Saudade (Portuguese) and Mono no Aware (Japanese)

• Saudade: In Portuguese, saudade refers to a deep emotional state of nostalgic longing for someone or something that is absent, often accompanied by a bittersweet mix of happiness and sadness. This word reflects the cultural value placed on reflecting on the past and experiencing both joy and melancholy at the same time. There’s no direct translation in English, which can make this complex emotional state difficult to fully grasp for non-Portuguese speakers.

• Mono no Aware: In Japanese, mono no aware refers to a deep, melancholic appreciation of the beauty and transience of life. This emotion is closely tied to Japanese cultural values surrounding impermanence and is often evoked in art, literature, and even everyday experiences. English speakers might describe this emotion as bittersweet, but the phrase doesn’t capture the same depth of cultural resonance.

Happiness and Contentment: Hygge (Danish) and Ubuntu (Zulu)

• Hygge: This Danish concept captures feelings of coziness, comfort, and warmth, often experienced in social settings or during quiet moments at home. While the English language has words like "cozy" or "comfortable," they don’t encapsulate the emotional richness and cultural significance that hygge carries in Denmark.

• Ubuntu: In Zulu, ubuntu is a philosophy that emphasizes community, connectedness, and shared humanity. It conveys an emotional experience of belonging and collective responsibility, deeply tied to African values of interconnectedness. While English speakers may describe a sense of community or empathy, ubuntu is much richer and more culturally embedded.

Emotional Regulation and Societal Norms

In addition to linguistic differences, societal norms around emotional regulation can vary greatly. Some cultures encourage emotional openness, while others emphasize emotional control and restraint.

• Emotional Openness: In cultures that value emotional openness, such as the United States or Italy, emotional expression is often seen as a sign of authenticity. People are encouraged to “speak their truth” and share their feelings in real time. Emotions like happiness, sadness, or anger are displayed without hesitation, and individuals often feel empowered to express their emotional experiences.

• Emotional Restraint: In cultures that value emotional control, such as Japan or Finland, emotions are often regulated in public, and people may downplay their feelings to avoid causing discomfort or appearing vulnerable. Emotional restraint is often seen as a sign of maturity, and individuals are expected to maintain composure in both positive and negative situations.

For international couples or cross-cultural teams, these differing norms around emotional regulation can lead to misinterpretations.

A Finnish colleague might seem distant or unemotional in a meeting, while an Italian colleague may be perceived as overly expressive or emotional. Understanding these cultural differences can prevent misunderstandings and foster more harmonious relationships.

Linguistic Relativity: How Language Shapes Emotional Experience

The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, or the theory of linguistic relativity, suggests that the structure of a language influences its speakers’ worldview and cognitive processes, including how they experience emotions.

This hypothesis, studied extensively by Whorf (1956), implies that the way we talk about emotions in our language influences how we feel and perceive them.

For example:

• Russian: Russian speakers have distinct words for light blue (голубой) and dark blue (синий), which shapes how they perceive colors. Similarly, the richness of emotional vocabulary in Russian helps shape how feelings are understood and experienced, such as the word тоска (a deep, spiritual sadness or longing).

• German: German has many compound words that describe specific emotional states, such as Schadenfreude (pleasure derived from another's misfortune) or Weltschmerz (a deep sadness about the world). The presence of these words reflects a cultural value of nuanced emotional understanding, providing Germans with a more detailed framework for experiencing and discussing complex emotions.

• English: While English is a rich language, it doesn’t have direct equivalents for many emotional terms in other languages, leading to a more generalized way of expressing emotions. For instance, English speakers may rely heavily on the word “love” to describe a range of emotional experiences, from affection for a partner to enjoyment of a hobby.

This linguistic shaping of emotions affects how folks from different cultures experience, articulate, and communicate their feelings. Understanding these linguistic nuances can deepen our appreciation for how emotions are culturally constructed and help us better navigate cross-cultural emotional expression.

Tips for Navigating Emotional Expression Across Cultures

• Learn the Emotional Vocabulary of Other Cultures
  Expanding your knowledge of emotional vocabulary in other languages can deepen your understanding of how people from different cultures experience and express feelings. Whether it’s saudade from Portuguese or mono no aware from Japanese, learning these words gives you insight into the emotional worlds of others.

• Be Aware of Non-Verbal Cues
  High-context cultures rely heavily on non-verbal communication. Pay attention to body language, eye contact, and tone of voice when interacting with people from cultures where emotions might not be expressed verbally.

• Practice Cultural Empathy
  Emotional expression is deeply influenced by cultural values. Practice empathy by acknowledging that what seems like emotional distance may actually be a cultural norm, and what seems like emotional openness may simply be a different way of communicating.

• Adapt Your Emotional Expectations
  If you’re in a cross-cultural relationship or working in a multicultural team, adjust your expectations around how emotions are expressed. Understanding that emotional expression varies between cultures will help you avoid miscommunication and strengthen your relationships.

Embracing Cultural Diversity in Emotional Expression

Emotions are at the heart of what it means to be human, but how we express and experience them is deeply influenced by culture and language.

Let’s get even more curious about linguistic and cultural differences in emotional expression, we can foster more meaningful communication, build stronger relationships, and appreciate the diverse ways that humans experience the world.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.

REFERENCES:

Wierzbicka, A. (1999). Emotions across languages and cultures: Diversity and universals. Cambridge University Press.

Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond culture. Anchor Books.

Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture's consequences: International differences in work-related values. Sage Publications.

Whorf, B. L. (1956). Language, thought, and reality: Selected writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf. MIT Press.

Matsumoto, D., & Juang, L. (2016). Culture and psychology (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.