Researching Multilingually at the Borders of Language, the Body, Law and the State An invitation for participation Mariam Attia

Researching Multilingually Two overarching aims: 1) to research interpreting, translation and multilingual practices in challenging contexts, and, 2) while doing so, to evaluate appropriate research methods (traditional and arts based) and develop theoretical approaches for this type of academic exploration. An international team of researchers with different disciplinary backgrounds, research experiences and language skills will conduct international comparative research on translation and interpretation at different kinds of border in order to develop theory, ethical research practices and research methodologies in relation to multilingual research.

Research Context  Concepts of borders and security/insecurity raise important practical and ethical questions as to how research might be conducted.  Focus on Methods: Part of the innovative nature of the project lies not in using new methods per se, but rather (i)in comparing across discipline-specific methods, (ii)interrogating arts and humanities methods where the body and body politic are under threat, (iii)in developing theoretical and methodological insights as a result.  There are some pockets of work in disciplines but no overarching framework across multiple disciplines.

Five Case Studies 1)Global Mental Health: Translating Sexual and Gender Based Trauma (Scotland/Sierra Leone) 2)Law: Translating vulnerability and silence in the legal process (UK/Netherlands) 3)State: Working and Researching Multilingually at State and EU borders (Bulgaria/Romania) 4)Borders: Multilingual Ecologies in American Southwest borderlands 5)Language Education: Arabic as a Foreign Language for International Learners (Gaza)

Two Hubs Multimodal Complementary Methods Processes (reflexive, ethical) Researchers (Teams, two hubs, five case study sites, three PhDs) CATC hub Performance, artistic creative methods RMTC hub Academic, investigative, comparative methods

practice

Outputs.. which create impact and communicate beyond the theme for a new generation of researchers and stakeholders who have tools, theories and methods for researching multilingually across wide range of disciplines.

Invitation for Participation Building on former AHRC project Researching Multilingually -> Networking project (Dec 2011 – Nov 2012)  Seminars  Online researcher network -> collaborations, Special Issue, funding.. etc

Durham Seminar, March 2012

UWE Seminar, April 2012

Manchester Seminar, May 2012

Invitation for Participation Building a wider researcher network:

Two Prompts 1) What is your experience of doing research in more than one language? 2) What is your experience of becoming aware of the complexities in this area?

Invitation for Participation  300 – 500 words – Same text can be offered in different languages  Personal photo (JPEG)   Modifying or updating profiles is possible (actually encouraged)  Looking forward to receiving your reflections!

Thank you شكراً Tak