Traditionally, international debate concerning research with none English-speaking communities and the significance of interpretation and translation has been centred in the UK and USA. Today interest is world wide. Studies are based in different countries and different continents. The aim of this conference is to bring a methodological highlight to problems concerning translation and interpretation, encountered during research.

Argument

Traditionally, international debate concerning research with none English-speaking communities and the significance of interpretation and translation has been centred in the UK and USA (Lopez, Figueroa, Connor & Maliski 2008; Temple &  Edwards 2002 ; Baker 2005; Edwards 1998). Today interest is world wide. Studies are based in different countries and different continents. The aim of this conference is to bring a methodological highlight to problems concerning translation and interpretation (T/I), encountered during research.

Concerns about how researchers and practitioners work with interpreters and translators continues to remain the preserve of a few researchers, despite the call for reflexivity in how we represent other people.  The ways in which practitioners work across languages has been shown to affect significantly the lives of those with whom they work.  In a similar way, the outcome of research is affected by how interpretation, transcription and translation issues are dealt with.

Researchers increasingly collaborate around international projects which involve studies in different countries and continents and across languages. TIN aims to provide a forum  in which researchers and practitioners who are interested in directly addressing cross language representation can discuss issues such as: the definition of interpretation and translation (T/I); factors to take into account when choosing who should carry out a T/I; how to present translated and interpreted accounts in writing in a different language; what do different theoretical and methodological approaches offer; do T/I issues differ in quantitative and qualitative research? ITIN is therefore aimed at researchers/practitioners from across the disciplines.

Main Topics

We are calling for papers on the following topics but would consider innovative papers in other areas:

• What is translation and what interpretation?

These terms are often used interchangeably.  What are the overlapping issues and what are the differences?  How do these impact on outcomes? Are there different considerations when working with T/Is? Are there different issues in translations using quantitative data?

• What can we do with interdisciplinary methodologies?

The question of T/I is developed through a range of academic disciplines, such as in sociology, but is also mobilized by professionals, for example in hospitals or in law with asylum seekers. What can be done with such a vast variety of approaches? What are the benefits of combining them?  What are the pitfalls?

• How to present translation/interpretation material within research and field work?

Many researchers who work across different languages do not present their methodologies in relation totheir use of interpreters or translators. What kind of criteria must we highlight in the presentation of material that has involved T/Is? How do we show the decisions that we have made about choice of words, for example. Does it matter if the language used disappears when findings are presented?  What are the political and ethical consequences of neglecting the actual language used?

• The T/I as a third agent in the interview.

Some researchers argue that it is essential to consider the T/Is role as a specific influence in analysis. That is, it matters who we choose to interpret and translate.  However, what to present as influential is problematic.  How can we know the factors we present are the relevant ones? What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of working with community ‘insiders’ compared with professional ‘outsiders’? What criteria are important in defining someone as an insider or outsiders?

Submission and Registration

English is the official conference language.

Selected papers will be submitted to a special issue of Bulletin of Sociological Methodology.

Information

The free one-day conference will be held on February 3^d, 2014

Refreshments will be provided. Suitable venues for lunch will be suggested on the day. Please specify any special requirements.

If you wish to attend without presenting at the conference please send an email to both organisers registering your intension to attend.

Scientific committee

• Cédric Verbeck
• Bogusia Temple