More than just translation: challenges and opportunities in translingual research L. G. Crane1, M. B. Lombard2, and E. M. Tenz2 1Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, Winter Street, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK 2Department of Town and Regional Planning, University of Sheffield, Winter Street, Sheffield, S3 7ND, UK
Received: 21 Feb 2009 – Published in Soc. Geogr. Discuss.: 04 Mar 2009 Revised: 28 Aug 2009 – Accepted: 16 Sep 2009 – Published: 05 Oct 2009
Abstract. With research in multilingual and intercultural settings becoming more and
more common, issues around "translation" have attracted increasing attention
in the social sciences. Drawing on their first-hand experiences of doing
research in multilingual settings, the authors suggest that processes of
translation create moments of friction and hesitation that, in turn, allow
for the production of new and hybrid spaces of understanding that cut across
linguistic and cultural borders. It is argued that the act of translation
gives space for increased critical reflexiveness regarding methodological
issues, such as working with a translator, positionality, and the
communication of academic terms, which are explored here. In particular, the
article relates these issues to wider concerns which may be relevant to
social science research more generally, but are often all too easily
overlooked.
Citation: Crane, L. G., Lombard, M. B., and Tenz, E. M.: More than just translation: challenges and opportunities in translingual research, Soc. Geogr., 4, 39-46, doi:10.5194/sg-4-39-2009, 2009.