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.

中文翻译：

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多语言用户如何搜索？查询和结果列表语言选择的调查

搜索系统的许多用户是多语言的，也就是说，他们精通两种或更多种语言。为了更好地理解和支持这种多语言用户的语言偏爱和行为，本文提出了一系列五项大规模研究，专门研究了有关搜索查询和结果列表的语言选择。总体而言，研究的结果表明，用户经常使用不同的语言（即，不仅是他们的主要语言），尤其是当用户获得选择时（例如，在提供第二语言查询或结果列表选择时）。特别是，当出现混合语言列表选项时，与仅使用主要语言的列表相比，参与者选择该选项的程度几乎相同。导致语言选择的重要因素是用户，与任务和系统有关，包括熟练程度，任务主题和结果布局。此外，参与者做出特定选择的主观原因表明，他们的主要语言被认为更舒适，次要语言通常具有更相关和可信赖的结果，并且混合语言列表提供了更好的概述。这些结果为深入了解多语言用户的偏好和行为提供了关键的见解，并可能有助于设计能够更好地支持多语言用户的查询和结果探索的系统。并且该混合语言列表提供了更好的概述。这些结果为深入了解多语言用户的偏好和行为提供了关键的见解，并可能有助于设计能够更好地支持多语言用户的查询和结果探索的系统。并且该混合语言列表提供了更好的概述。这些结果为深入了解多语言用户的偏好和行为提供了关键的见解，并可能有助于设计能够更好地支持多语言用户的查询和结果探索的系统。