The Role of Language Brokering and Interpersonal Communication in the Research Process and Academic Text Production

The Role of Language Brokering and Interpersonal Communication in the Research Process and Academic Text Production

Research writing and the related language brokering – such as translation or editing –have often been viewed as the final phase of the research process, occurring after the research has been conducted. Moreover, the role of language brokers in academia has traditionally remained invisible, reflecting the instrumentalist assumption that language is a neutral, transparent medium and translation and editing are merely technical operations that do not affect the substance of texts. We want to draw attention to the multitude of entanglements and communicative exchanges between researchers, language brokers and texts that take place throughout the research process, from drafting the research plan, creation of data collection instruments (surveys, interview questions), to preparing manuscripts for publication. All these phases of the research process involve writing, rewriting, translation, and editing. Often researchers also self-translate and back-translate research texts – e.g., extracts from interview data, field notes, reflective diaries – without necessarily problematizing these seemingly minor, mundane acts that may nevertheless affect research quality. We emphasize the shared and negotiated nature of meaning-making and the significance of interaction and dialogue between the researcher and the language broker in this process. We argue that examining this aspect of academic communication is valuable in many ways: First, the very act of problematizing the role of language brokers in the research process and academic text production underlines the foundational role language, translation, and interpersonal communication play in academic work. Second, paying closer attention to language brokering in the research process can contribute to research quality – not only as higher quality of texts, but it may also affect foundational elements of research such as content validity and data accuracy. Third, these insights can contribute to researcher education and inform research-based teaching at universities.

Keywords: language brokering, research writing, interpersonal communication, meaning-making, research quality