The Impact of Cultural Background and Cross-Cultural Experience on Impressions of American and Korean Male Speakers

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that people from different cultures would form different trait impressions based on the same vocal qualities and that cross-cultural experience would influence trait impressions through adaptive acculturation. Koreans in Korea, Koreans in the United States, and Americans served as subjects with American and Korean male speakers as targets. It was found that vocal loudness universally conveyed power. The effects of vocal rate and tenseness differed across cultures. A fast voice conveyed power and competence to Americans, but not to Koreans. Koreans in the United States converged with Americans in perceiving a positive relationship between vocal speed and the competence of American and Korean speakers. However, unlike Americans, they did not perceive a positive relationship between vocal speed and power. Koreans in the United States perceived a positive relationship between a tight voice and the power of both Korean and American speakers more so than Koreans in Korea did. These results are discussed within theories of ecological perception and linguistic accommodation.