Learning outcomes

After the course, students will:
- be better in considering and dealing with methodological issues of foreign languages at different phases of their (qualitative) research projects
- have knowledge on the key issues concerning interpreting and translation and know where to go for further information
- have practical means for dealing with foreign languages in their doctoral thesis.

General description

This two-day course wants to address methodological problems resulting from societal multi-ethnicity, migration and internationalisation of research for qualitative research designs.

Especially in interviews, but also in ethnography and document analysis researchers are often confronted with the fact that individuals (and/or material) involved use different languages than the researchers’ mother tongue. The question of how to deal with multiple languages in the research process is relevant for different phases: the design, the generating of data, the analysis and the presentation of the results.

Problematic from a methodological point of view are the limits of translation or in a broader perspective, the challenges of understanding different/foreign cultures. From a practical perspective research has to be carefully planned: if professional interpreters are included financial compensation has to be provided; professional, but even more informal co-interpreters have to be trained and instructed, the researchers own language skills have to be reflected and possibly improved.

The course consists of lectures, discussion & students’ presentations in class and a pre-assignment.

Teacher: Dr Beate Littig, Vienna
Lecture Hall: 18.9. Room K113 (Linna), 19.9. Room A32 (Main building)
Number of students: 30

Programme

18.9.2013

10.15-11.00     Welcome and a summary on themes raised in the pre-assignments
11.00-12.15    What are the basic problems of foreign languages and translation in qualitative research?
12.15-13.15    lunch
13.15-14.30    Challenges and solutions in dealing with multiple languages in interviews regarding the research design, data generation, transcription, data analysis, and reporting/writing-up
14.30-14.45    coffee break
14.45-16.00    Expanding discussion to ethnography and document analysis

19.9.2013

10.15-12.00    Presentation and discussion of students’ research projects and foreign languages
12.00 - 13.00    lunch
13.00 - 14.30    Presentation and discussion of students’ research projects and foreign languages
14.30-14.45    coffee break
14.45. - 16.00    Summing-up: Multiple languages in research and society? Towards a Sociology of translation and consequences for qualitative research
Input: DVD: Die Falten des Königs (German with English subtitles)

PLEASE NOTE:
Enrolment in NettiOpsu begins on 26 August 2013. Students are selected on a first-come, first served –basis. Those accepted to the course are required to send in a pre-assignment (max one page A 4) through Moodle.  Dead line for pre-assignments tba.

Sufficient knowledge on qualitative methods are required to participate.

THE PRE-ASSIGNMENT: Please include the following in short:
1.    Your name & discipline
2.    Your research topic
3.    Potential problems of how to deal with foreign languages you have encountered or anticipate to encounter as part of your doctoral research and solutions you may already have in mind
4.    Any issues relating to the seminar topic you wish to be discussed during the course
5.    Please indicate in case you are willing to present some key question concerning issues of foreign languages in your own doctoral work (2+1 ECTS to those presenting)

References:

Larkin, Philip J.& Bernadette Dierckx de Casterlé & Paul Schotsmans (2007): Multilingual Translation Issues in Qualitative Research: Reflections on a Metaphorical Process, In: Qualitative Health Research, Volume 17 Number 4, April 2007, pp 468-476

Lopez, Griselda I. et al. 2008: Translation Barriers in Conducting Qualitative Research With Spanish Speakers. In: Qualitative Health Research 18, Vol.12, S. 1729-1737

Temple, Bogusia & Young Alys (2004): Qualitative Research and Translation Dilemmas. In: Qualitative Research, Vol (4)2, pp. 161-178

Gutierrez Rodriguez, Encarnacion (2006). Translating Positionality. On Post-Colonial Conjunctures and Transversal Understanding. Linz: eipcp (European Institute for Progressive Cultural Policies), http://eipcp.net/transversal/0606/gutierrez-rodriguez/en

Nikander, Pirjo (2008). Working with Transcripts and Translated Data In: Qualitative Research in Psychology, 5/3,2 pp 225-231

Schröer, Norbert 2009: Hermeneutic Sociology of Knowledge for Intercultural Understanding [37 paragraphs]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 10(1), Art 40, http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0901408

Wolf, Michaela (2007). Introduction. The emergence of a sociology of translation. In Michaela Wolf & Alexandra Fukari (Eds.), Constructing a sociology of translation, pp.1-36. Amsterdam, PA: John Benjamins Publishing Company