Linguistic intelligence and logical intelligence: Which is determinant for logical connector (LC) comprehension by EFL readers?

Abstract

The label of ‘logical connectors’ (LCs) or ‘conjunction’ suggests that these expressions constitute an area where linguistic intelligence and logical/mathematical intelligence are likely to intersect. This paper is the first to explore the relationship between these two intelligence types and EFL undergraduates’ use of LCs in both their L1 (Arabic) and L2 (English). Two instruments (the Multiple Intelligence Inventory and the Logical Relations Reading Test) were administered to 200 English-major undergraduates. The results revealed that these students had significantly higher logical/mathematical intelligence than linguistic intelligence. Nonetheless, linguistic intelligence had a stronger correlation with their reading comprehension performance in both their L1 and L2. The findings of this study and their implications are helpful for EFL instructors and invite further in-depth research that addresses the relationship between intelligence types and EFL learning.