How do multilingual users search? An investigation of query and result list language choices

Abstract

Many users of search systems are multilingual, that is, they are proficient in two or more languages. In order to better understand and support the language preferences and behaviors of such multilingual users, this paper presents a series of five large‐scale studies that specifically elicit language choices regarding search queries and result lists. Overall, the results from the studies indicate that users frequently make use of different languages (i.e., not just their primary language), especially when they are provided with choices (e.g., when provided with a secondary language query or result list choice). In particular, when presented with a mixed‐language list choice, participants choose this option to an almost equal extent compared to primary‐language‐only lists. Important factors leading to language choices are user‐, task‐ and system‐related, including proficiency, task topic, and result layout. Moreover, participants' subjective reasons for making particular choices indicate that their primary language is considered more comfortable, that the secondary language often has more relevant and trustworthy results, and that mixed‐language lists provide a better overview. These results provide crucial insights into multilingual user preferences and behaviors, and may help in the design of systems that can better support the querying and result exploration of multilingual users.

An exploration of ethnic minorities' needs for multilingual information access of public digital cultural services

“…Users also are looking forward to editing or adjusting their queries to access more information. It has been confirmed that users tended to choose their native language significantly more than a second language in formulating their queries (Steichen and Lowe, 2021). They were more likely to reformulate or edit the query in the source language based on the available tools than with the machine translation (Dorr et al.…”

“…One of the biggest challenges for multilingual information retrieval lies in how to better support multilingual users from the interaction perspective. According to Steichen and Lowe (2021), multilingual user preferences are influenced by the layout of search results. Mixed-language result lists in the middle attracted the greatest attention compared with single-language result lists that affect users' behavior.…”

“…The diversity of global online search users has brought new challenges to the development of search engines. Most studies have focused on translating queries formulated by users and optimizing retrieval algorithms (Steichen and Lowe, 2021). Cross-language information retrieval (CLIR) refers to the retrieval of information written in source language based on a query expressed in target language.…”

“…It showed that users prefer electronic articles, e-books and periodicals, mainly for completing course assignments using their language skills, online translators and dictionaries to achieve MILA. Moreover, a few research studies on MLIA from the users' perspective focus on multilingual information seeking and browsing behavior (Steichen et al, 2014(Steichen et al, , 2020Lowe and Steichen, 2017;Steichen and Lowe, 2021). Multilingual users prefer to browse than search online because it is difficult to express their information needs in search queries of different languages (Steichen et al, 2014).…”

“…Moreover, a few research studies on MLIA from the users' perspective focus on multilingual information seeking and browsing behavior (Steichen et al. , 2014, 2020; Lowe and Steichen, 2017; Steichen and Lowe, 2021). Multilingual users prefer to browse than search online because it is difficult to express their information needs in search queries of different languages (Steichen et al.…”