Translation of Cultures and Texts: Envisioning a Culturally Responsive Translational Practice in Qualitative Research.

Abstract

In this methodological paper, we raise the question of what a culturally responsive translational practice might look like in qualitative research. Through examining the literature on translation in culturally responsive theories and qualitative research methodology, we distinguish two approaches in addressing the issue of translation: translation as texts and translation as cultures. To enact a culturally responsive translational practice, qualitative researchers should maintain an intimately linked dual-focus in their work, attending to both the practical aspects of translation that directly lead to the production of the final translated texts, as well as translation's multi-layered cultural and political effects. This proposal is further unpacked on three levels: (1) On the level of social and cultural processes and structure, we examine the routes and gatekeepers of translation in the context of knowledge production and mobilization; (2) on the level of intersubjective relationality, we explore the significance of visibilizing translation and translators; and (3) on the level of human-text interaction, we consider how interpretive approaches, untranslatability, and styles of translation may shape researchers' translation practice. While drawing insights from culturally responsive theories, we also substantiate our argument using critical translational studies and examples from our empirical research projects. Taken together, this paper outlines some important considerations qualitative researchers should take into account as they envision a culturally responsive translational practice in qualitative research and calls for researchers to engage in this work with multilingual awareness, reflexivity, and criticality.