Reflexivity in research: Navigating linguistic and cultural semi-understanding in the sociolinguistic interview
Document Type
Paper Presentation
Presenter Language
English
Research Area
pragmatics and discourse analysis, linguistic anthropology, sociolinguistics
Location
MBSC Omaha Room 304
Start Date
17-10-2024 5:30 PM
End Date
17-10-2024 6:00 PM
Abstract
In my research I examine the linguistic practices of Moroccans in Spain, many of whom speak Moroccan Arabic as well as Modern Standard Arabic, Tamazight, French, English and Spanish at varying levels of proficiency. As part of my research, I conducted a 10-month linguistic ethnography carried out in the summer of 2017 and the academic year of 2018 and 2019. I was able to rely on my native English and near-native Spanish language skills for my research, but it was also necessary to use Modern Standard Arabic and even Moroccan Arabic in my sociolinguistic interviews. I possess limited working knowledge of Modern Standard Arabic and even more limited knowledge of Moroccan Arabic. In this paper, I will discuss one instance of conducting a sociolinguistic interview in Moroccan Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, and Spanish. I conduct a discursive analysis of the interactional positioning and linguistic resources in this 46-minute interview based on a perspective of “spaces of linguistic non-understanding.” In further development of this construct, I show how spaces of “linguistic semi-understanding” arise in the sociolinguistic interview which require the researcher to move beyond the genre of the interview. In addition, I demonstrate how spaces of linguistic non- and semi-understanding are intertwined with negotiations of social and cultural knowledge. Lastly, I aim to highlight the challenges and opportunities afforded to researchers who work in communities outside of their own, as is the case for many researchers in the field of Hispanic linguistics.
Key terms: discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, multilingual research, linguistic ethnography, sociolinguistic interview, linguistic non-understanding
Resources
Talmy, S. (2011). The interview as collaborative achievement: Interaction, identity, and ideology in a speech event. Applied Linguistics. 32 (1), 25-42.
Talmy, S. (2010). Interviews in qualitative Applied Linguistics. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics. 30, 128-148.
van Hest, E., & Jacobs, M. (2022). Spaces of linguistic non-understanding in linguistic ethnography (and beyond). In M. Victoria (Ed.), Methodological issues and challenges in researching transculturally (pp. 14–38). Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Reflexivity in research: Navigating linguistic and cultural semi-understanding in the sociolinguistic interview
MBSC Omaha Room 304
In my research I examine the linguistic practices of Moroccans in Spain, many of whom speak Moroccan Arabic as well as Modern Standard Arabic, Tamazight, French, English and Spanish at varying levels of proficiency. As part of my research, I conducted a 10-month linguistic ethnography carried out in the summer of 2017 and the academic year of 2018 and 2019. I was able to rely on my native English and near-native Spanish language skills for my research, but it was also necessary to use Modern Standard Arabic and even Moroccan Arabic in my sociolinguistic interviews. I possess limited working knowledge of Modern Standard Arabic and even more limited knowledge of Moroccan Arabic. In this paper, I will discuss one instance of conducting a sociolinguistic interview in Moroccan Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, and Spanish. I conduct a discursive analysis of the interactional positioning and linguistic resources in this 46-minute interview based on a perspective of “spaces of linguistic non-understanding.” In further development of this construct, I show how spaces of “linguistic semi-understanding” arise in the sociolinguistic interview which require the researcher to move beyond the genre of the interview. In addition, I demonstrate how spaces of linguistic non- and semi-understanding are intertwined with negotiations of social and cultural knowledge. Lastly, I aim to highlight the challenges and opportunities afforded to researchers who work in communities outside of their own, as is the case for many researchers in the field of Hispanic linguistics.
Key terms: discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, multilingual research, linguistic ethnography, sociolinguistic interview, linguistic non-understanding
Resources
Talmy, S. (2011). The interview as collaborative achievement: Interaction, identity, and ideology in a speech event. Applied Linguistics. 32 (1), 25-42.
Talmy, S. (2010). Interviews in qualitative Applied Linguistics. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics. 30, 128-148.
van Hest, E., & Jacobs, M. (2022). Spaces of linguistic non-understanding in linguistic ethnography (and beyond). In M. Victoria (Ed.), Methodological issues and challenges in researching transculturally (pp. 14–38). Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.