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An ethic for researching multilingually in transnational, multilingual, multidisiplinary research teams

Holmes, P.; Rajab, T.

An ethic for researching multilingually in transnational, multilingual, multidisiplinary research teams Thumbnail


Authors

T. Rajab



Contributors

P. Holmes
Editor

J. Corbett
Editor

Abstract

Working in a multilingual, multinational, and multidisciplinary project invites questions concerning the role of languages among the researchers, participants and stakeholders involved in the project. In this chapter, we attempt to explore how colleagues in the network project understood the role of their own linguistic resources, and those of others included in their research: for example, decisions about using multiple languages in literature searches and reviews; linguistic decisions in the field when working with the multiple languages of participants and other stakeholders; in collaborations within the research team; and in producing academic and stakeholder outputs. In previous work, Holmes and colleagues had come to realise that decisions concerning how researchers draw on their linguistic resources in their research are largely made tacitly; or decisions may be shaped by structural and linguistic hegemonies, often in ways that go uncontested or cannot be contested, in the contexts where the research is produced, or later, where it is to be published (Holmes et al., 2013; Andrews et al., 2020; Holmes et al., 2022). Furthermore, Meyer Pitton and Schedel (2022, in press) comment that decisions about language choice and publication within research teams are rarely discussed. In this chapter, we draw on the experiences of the researchers who were part of our transnational network to explore processes of researching multilingually in an attempt to uncover researchers’ perspectives on these matters. Our aim is to provide an ethical stance towards multilingual researcher practices in a multilingual network of researchers, who in this case, are working in contexts of conflict, forced migration, economic marginalisation, and occupation. First, we discuss the research context and chapter aims, followed by our research method. We then present the researchers’ responses (the languages in the project, and participants’ experiences of drawing on multiple linguistic resources during various phases of the project. We finish with conclusions and recommendations to other researchers on incorporating an ethic of researching multilingually in their work.

Citation

Holmes, P., & Rajab, T. (2022). An ethic for researching multilingually in transnational, multilingual, multidisiplinary research teams. In P. Holmes, & J. Corbett (Eds.), Critical intercultural pedagogy for difficult times: Conflict, crisis, and creativity (228-249). New York: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003150756-15

Online Publication Date Jul 21, 2022
Publication Date Jul 21, 2022
Deposit Date Apr 1, 2022
Publicly Available Date Jan 22, 2024
Publisher Routledge
Pages 228-249
Series Title Routledge Studies in Language and Intercultural Communication
Edition 1st ed.
Book Title Critical intercultural pedagogy for difficult times: Conflict, crisis, and creativity
Chapter Number 12
ISBN 9780367714123
DOI https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003150756-15
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1621950
Contract Date Feb 2, 2022

Files

Accepted Book Chapter (329 Kb)
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Copyright Statement
This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in Conflict, crisis, and creativity: Critical intercultural pedagogy for intercultural communication in difficult times on 21 July 2022, available online: http://www.routledge.com/9780367714123





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