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Language Use and Participatory Research
Author(s) -
Little Walter E.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
annals of anthropological practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.22
H-Index - 14
eISSN - 2153-9588
pISSN - 2153-957X
DOI - 10.1111/napa.12146
Subject(s) - participatory action research , citizen journalism , ethnography , field (mathematics) , context (archaeology) , sociology , dimension (graph theory) , participatory design , politics , field research , epistemology , engineering ethics , social science , computer science , political science , engineering , anthropology , law , world wide web , geography , philosophy , mathematics , archaeology , pure mathematics , mechanical engineering , parallels
This essay explores various reasons and politics behind learning a field research language that go beyond the merely pragmatic function of being a tool to collect data. Moreover, the role of language competency in one's field language is interlinked with the ethics of conducting research and by reflecting on specific ethnographic contexts in Guatemala, it is possible to explore some of the contours of participatory research. One dimension, the appropriate language competency in cultural context, collaboration is considered foundational to participatory research. It is argued that ethnographers’ collaborators and friends in their research sites shape the roles and language use. In some cases, it is unethical and culturally disrespectful to not use the language preferred by collaborators. In short, the language used in participatory projects is not just about data collection, it is an ethical choice.