Richard Clément

• Social psychology of interethnic communication and intergroup relations
• Social psychology of second and foreign language learning
• Trans- and intercultural psychology
• Bilingualism and society
• Social neuroscience of communication

Richard Clément’s research focuses on the motivational aspects of bilingualism, second language acquisition, as well as the processes of identity transformation and adaptation in contexts of acculturation. His work examines the role of intercultural communication in the social and psychological adaptation of members of minority groups and immigrants, as well as emerging perspectives in social neuroscience applied to prejudice, discrimination, and intergroup communication.

For more than four decades, his research program has benefited from continuous support from Canadian and European funding agencies. He has also held the University Research Chair on Bilingualism and Society. He has received many prizes, among which are Knight of the Order of Academic Palms and Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. As well, several of his publications have received international recognition. He is the recipient of the Otto Klineberg Award in Intercultural and International Relations from the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, the K. Mildenberger Award from the Modern Language Association, and the Paul Pimsleur Award from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

He has also been actively involved in outreach, knowledge mobilization, and program development. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science of the Canadian Psychological Association and as Associate Editor of the Canadian Modern Language Review, in addition to serving on the editorial boards of numerous national and international journals. He contributed to the creation of the Language Rights Support Program, which funded legal challenges related to the constitutional language rights of Canadians, and positioned OLBI as Canada’s permanent representative to the Language Policy Division of the Council of Europe through the European Centre for Modern Languages. He has been a visiting professor at several institutions, including Birkbeck, University of London; the University of California, Santa Barbara; the University of Strasbourg; Université Côte d’Azur; and Université Paris Diderot (Paris VII).

Professor Clément has held numerous leadership positions at the University of Ottawa, including Director and Vice-Dean of the School of Psychology, as well as Founding Director and Vice-Dean of the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute. He also served on the Board of Governors, its Executive Committee, and the Senate, and was elected to the Council of Ontario Universities.

• 2022 Fellow, International Association for the Psychology of Language Learning
• 2017 Knight, Order of Academic Palms (French Republic)
• 2015 Lifetime Honorary Member, Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers
• 2014 Fellow, International Association for Language and Social Psychology
• 2008 Member, Royal Society of Canada
• 2004 Fellow, American Psychological Association (Div. 8 & 9)
• 2003–2015 University of Ottawa Research Chair in Bilingualism and Society
• 1998 Fellow, International Academy of Intercultural Research
• 1989 Fellow, Canadian Psychological Association

• Introduction to Psychology
• Introduction to the Study of Personality
• Foundations of Social Psychology
• History and Systems in Psychology
• Social Psychology of Language and Communication
• Proseminar in Psychology

Award-winning articles

Edwards, H.P., Wesche, M., Krashen, S., Clément, R., & Kruidenier, B.  (1984). Second Language acquisition through subject‑matter learning:  A study of sheltered psychology classes at the University of Ottawa.  The Canadian Modern Language Review, 41, 268‑282. Prix Paul Pimsleur 1986 (American Congress of Teachers of Foreign Languages).

MacIntyre, P. D., Clément, R., Dörnyei, Z., & Noels, K. A. (1998) Conceptualizing willingness to communicate in a L2: A situational model of L2 confidence and affiliation. Modern Language Journal, 82, 545-562. Prix Prix Kenneth W. Mildenberger 1999 (Modern Language Association).

Clément, R., Noels, K. A., & Deneault, B. (2001). Interethnic contact, identity and psychological adjustment: The mediating and moderating roles of communication. Journal of Social Issues, 57, 557-577. Prix Otto Klineberg Intercultural & International Relations 2002 (Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues).

Monographs and edited books

Fennell, R. & Clément, R. (Eds). (2017).  Bilingual from birth: Process, pedagogy and policy, OLBI Working Paper, 8, 1-156. 

Clément, R. & Foucher, P. (Eds). (2014). Fifty years of official bilingualism: Challenges, analyses and testimonies, 119p.

Clément, R. & Andrew, C. (Eds). (2012). Cities and Languages: Governance and Policy. 124 p.

Piccardo, E., Germain-Rutherford, A. & Clément, R. (Eds) (2011). Adopter ou adapter : le Cadre européen commun de référence est-il seulement européen ? Numéro annuel de Synergies Europe, 6, 1-232

Clément, R. (Ed) (2007). Communication, language and discrimination. Numéro spécial du Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 26 (2), 101–211.

Clément, R., Bélair, J., & Côté, P. (1994). Contact interethnique et communication : Processus et conséquences. Québec : Centre international de recherche sur l’aménagement langagier, 66 p.

Clément, R. (1978). Motivational Characteristics of Francophones Learning English: Predictive and Descriptive Aspects. Québec: International Center for Research on Bilingualism, 135 p. 

Chapters in books

Rubenfeld,S., & Clément, R. (2023). Measuring intercultural mediation in the context of intergroup conflict: Classical and modern test theory approaches to scale assessment. In D. Busch (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Intercultural Mediation (pp. 387-396).

Rubenfeld, S. & Clément, R. (2020). Identity, adaptation and social harmony: A legacy of the socio-educational model. In A. H. Al-Hoorie & P. D. MacIntyre (Eds.). Contemporary Language Motivation Theory: 60 Years since Gardner and Lambert (1959). (pp.109-129). Bristol: Multilingual Matters.

Yim, O., Clément, R., & MacIntyre, P.(2019). The contexts of SLA motivation: Linking ideologies and situational variations. In M. Lamb, M. Csizér, A, Henry & S. Ryan (Eds). Palgrave MacMillan Handbook of Motivation for Language Learning. (pp. 225-244). London: Palgrave.

Clément, R., Bielajew, C., & Sampasivam, S. (2016). Towards a social neuroscience of intergroup communication. In H. Giles & A. Maass (Eds.), Advances in intergroup communication. (pp. 285-300). New York, NY: Peter Lang.

Collins, K. A. & Clément, R. (2015). Words we use: Linguistic bias and prejudice. In R. Torres Cacoullos, N. Dion, & A. Lapierre (Eds): Linguistic variation: Confronting fact and theory. (pp. 178–192). New York & London: Routledge.

Sampasivam, S. & Clément, R. (2014). The Dynamics of Second Language Confidence: Perspective and interaction. In S. Mercer & M. Williams (Eds), Multiple Perspectives on the Self. (pp.23-40). Bristol: Multilingual Matters

MacIntyre, P. D., MacKinnon, S. P.,& Clément, R. (2009). The baby, the bathwater, and the future of language learning motivation research. In Z. Dornyei and E. Ushioda (Eds.), Motivation, Language Identity and the L2 Self. (pp. 43–65). Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters. 

Clément, R., Noels, K. A., & MacIntyre, P. (2007). Three variations on the social psychology of bilingualism: Context effects in motivation, usage and identity. In A. Weatherall, B. Watson, & C. Gallois (Eds.), Language and Social Psychology. (pp. 51–77. Houndsmill, UK: Palgrave.

Clément, R., & Baker, S. C. (2006). Langue, statut et identité : quelques réflexions sur les processus et conséquences de l’usage langagier. In P. Georgeault & M. Pagé (Eds.), Le français, langue de la diversité québécoise. (pp. 257-279). Montréal : Québec Amérique.

Clément, R. & Noels, K. A. (2006). La communication sociale : aspects interpersonnels et inter-groupes. In R. Vallerand (Ed.), Les fondements de la psychologie sociale 2^ème édition. (pp. 295-327) Boucherville (Québec) : Gaetan Morin Éditeur ltée.

Clément, R., & Gardner, R.C. (2001). Second language mastery. In H. Giles, & P. Robinson (Eds.), The New Handbook of Language and Social Psychology (pp. 489–504). London: Wiley.

Peer-reviewed articles

Collins, K. A., Barbeau, K., Sampasivam, S., Bielajew, C., & Clément, R. (2023). Outgroup threat and opportunity to derogate: A social neuro-science approach. Psychology of Language and Communication, 27(1), 59-79. 

Yim, O., & Clément, R. (2021). Cultural identification and attitudes towards code-switching: A bidimensional framework. International Journal of Bilingualism, 25(5), 1369-1388.

Clément, R., & Norton, B. (2021). Vitality, investment and language identity. Journal of Language and Social psychology,40(1), 154-171.

Freynet, N., Collins, K. A., & Clément, R. (2020). Perceived accent discrimination: Consequences for psychological adjustment and resilience effects. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 41(10), 858-871.

Yim, O. & Clément, R. (2019). ‘’You are a jusking’’: Examining Cantonese-English code switching as an index of identity using a mixed-method approach. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 38, 479-495.

Sampasivam, S., Collins, K., Bielajew, C., & Clément, R. (2018). Intergroup threat and the linguistic intergroup bias: A stress biomarker study. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 36(6), 632-655.

Freynet, N., Clément, R., & Sylvestre, J. (2018). A qualitative investigation of accent stigmatization among native and non-native French speakers in Canada. Journal of Language and Discrimination, 2(1), 5-31.

Freynet, N., & Clément, R. (2018). Lorsque les idéologies et les pratiques langagières ne concordent pas: Le cas de l’accentisme au Canada français. Les Cahiers de la LCD (Luttes contre les discriminations), 7, 95-106.

Ellyson, C., Andrew, C., & Clément, R. (2016). Language planning and adult immigrants in Canada: Contrasting the provinces of Quebec and British Columbia and the cities of Montreal and Vancouver. London Educational Review, 14(2), 134-156.

Sampasivam, S., Collins, K. A., Bielajew, C. H., & Clément, R., (2016). The effects of outgroup derogation on salivary cortisol. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,13(6), 616.

Noels, K. A. & Clément, R. (2015). Situational variation in ethnic identity across immigration generations: Implications for acculturative change and cross-cultural adaptation. International Journal of Psychology, 50, 451–462.

Freynet, N. & Clément, R. (2015). Bilingualism in minority settings in Canada: Fusion or assimilation. International Journal of Intercultural Research, 46, 55–72.

Collins, K. & Clément, R. (2012). Language and prejudice: direct and moderated effects. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 31, 376–396.

Shulman, J., Collins, K., & Clément, R. (2011). In consideration of social context: Re-examining the linguistic intergroup bias paradigm. Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 4, 310–332.

Gaudet, S. & Clément, R. (2009). Forging an identity as a linguistic minority: Intra- and inter-group aspects of language, communication and identity. International Journal of Intercultural Research,33, 213–227.

Shulman, J. L., & Clément, R. (2008). Expressing prejudice through the linguistic intergroup bias: Second language confidence and identity among minority group members. Diversité Urbaine, 8, 109–130.

Rubenfeld, S., Clément, R., Vinograd, J., Lussier, D., Amireault, V., Auger, R. & Lebrun, M. (2007). Becoming a cultural intermediary: A further social corollary of second language mastery. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 26, 182–203.

Clément, R., Singh, S. S. & Gaudet, S. (2006). Identity and adaptation among minority Indo-Guyanese: Influence of generational status, gender, reference group and situation. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 9, 289–304.

Clément, R., Baker, S. C., Josephson, G. & Noels, K. A. (2005). Media effects on ethnic identity among linguistic majorities and minorities: a longitudinal study of a bilingual setting. Human Communication Research, 31, 399–422.

Gaudet, S. & Clément, R. (2005). Ethnic identity and psychological adjustment among the Fransaskois. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 37, 110–122.

Wen, W.-P. & Clément, R. (2003). A Chinese conceptualisation of willingness to communicate in ESL. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 16, 18–38.

Noels, K. A, Clément, R., & Pelletier, L. (1999). Perceptions of teachers’ communicative style and students’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Modern Language Journal, 83.23-34.

Noels, K. A., Pon, G., & Clément, R. (1996). Language, identity and adjustment: The role of linguistic self-confidence in the acculturation process. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 15, 246–264.

Clément, R., & Wald, P. (1995). Identité ethnolinguistique et notion de langue : représentations fluctuantes dans le contact interculturel. Bulletin de Psychologie, 48, 297-306.

Clément, R., Dörnyei, Z., & Noels, K. A. (1994). Motivation and the foreign language classroom. Language Learning, 44, 417–448.

Clément, R., Gauthier, R., & Noels, K. (1993). Choix langagiers en milieu minoritaire : attitudes et identité concomitantes. Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 25, 149-164.

Clément, R., & Noels, K. A. (1992). Towards a situated approach to ethnolinguistic identity: The effects of status on individuals and groups. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 11, 203–232.

Clément, R. (1986). Second language proficiency and acculturation: an investigation of the effects of language status and individual characteristics. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 5, 271 ‑ 290.

Labrie, N., & Clément, R. (1986). Ethnolinguistic vitality, self‑confidence and second language proficiency: an investigation. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 7, 269 ‑ 282.

Clément, R., & Beauregard, Y. (1986). Peur d’assimilation et confiance en soi : leur relation à l’alternance des codes et à la compétence communicative en langue seconde. Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 18, 187‑196.

Clément, R., & Kruidenier, B.G. (1985). Aptitude, attitude and motivation in second language proficiency: A test of Clément’s model. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 4, 21 ‑ 37.

Clément, R., & Kruidenier, B.G. (1983). Orientations in second language acquisition: The effects of ethnicity, milieu and target language on their emergence. Language Learning, 33, 273 ‑ 291.

Clément, R., Smythe, P.C., & Gardner, R.C. (1978). Persistence in Second Language Study: Motivational Considerations. Revue canadienne des langues vivantes, 34, pp. 688‑694.

Clément, R., Gardner, R. C., & Smythe, P.C. (1977). Inter‑ethnic contact: Attitudinal consequences. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 9, 205 ‑ 215.

Clément, R., Gardner, R.C., & Smythe, P.C. (1977). Motivational variables in second language acquisition: A study of francophones learning English. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 9, 123 ‑ 133.

Aboud, F.E., Clément, R., & Taylor, D.M. (1974). Evaluational reactions to discrepancies between social class and language. Sociometry, 37, 239 ‑ 250.