Incorporating translation into sociolinguistic research: Translation policy in an international non‐governmental organisation

Abstract

This article explores aspects of translation, multilingualism and language policy in the field of transnational civil society. By focusing on translation policies at Amnesty International, an international non‐governmental organisation that performs a key role in global governance, this article seeks to contribute to a globalisation‐sensitive sociolinguistics. It argues that combining a sociolinguistic approach – more precisely linguistic ethnography – with translation studies leads to an increased understanding of the language practices under study. Furthermore, the article calls for more interdisciplinary research, stating that there is space for sociolinguistics and translation studies to contribute to research in international relations and development studies by highlighting the role of multilingualism and challenging the traditionally powerful position of English in transnational civil society.

Linguistic Capital and Inequality in Aid Relations

“…Her account focuses primarily on the translation of reports. Similarly, Schäffner et al (2014) and Tesseur (2017) examine the translation of written documents of NGOs such as Amnesty International. Listening projects (Abu-Sada, 2012) seek to understand how beneficiaries perceive international aid organisations, but hardly address what role language plays in the encounters between international and national staff.…”

Okra in translation

“…The ethnographic method, employed in translation studies for the analysis of communities of practice (Flynn, 2010;Tesseur, 2017), enabled me to understand the practical relevance of translation in contexts of asylum, as well as refugees' attitudes towards translation and intercultural communication. Through my involvement as a teacher in Urbagri4Women, I researched the way in which the beneficiaries' rich and diverse multilingual repertoires interacted with the specialized language of Italian agriculture.…”

“If you’ve done a good job, it’s as if you’ve never existed”: Translators on translation in development projects in the Sahel

“…Evidence shows increasing awareness from practitioners and academics of the importance of translation to cross-cultural research (e.g. Floro and Komatsu 2011;Maclean 2007;Temple and Edwards 2002), development and humanitarian aid (Cornwall and Eade 2010;Crack 2019;Federici et al 2019;Footitt 2017;Powell 2006;Tesseur 2017;. There is also a growing body of literature concerning cultural translation and "vernacularization" of concepts across "local" and "global" contexts Merry 2009, 2011;Østebø 2015;Unnithan and Heitmeyer 2014).…”