Methodological Principles for Researching Multilingually: Reflections on Linguistic Ethnography

Citation

Costley T & Reilly C (2021) Methodological Principles for Researching Multilingually: Reflections on Linguistic Ethnography. TESOL Quarterly, 55 (3), pp. 1035-1047. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesq.3037

Abstract
Linguistic ethnography provides insight into how communication occurs between individuals and institutions, while situating these local actions within wider social, political and historical contexts (Copland & Creese, 2015) and has proven to be a particularly effective tool for developing our understanding of individuals’ lived multilingual realities (see Unamuno, 2014) and societal multilingualism. Turning the ‘reflexive gaze’ that is central to ethnography (Clifford & Marcus, 1986) back onto linguistic ethnography itself, we argue that where complex multilingual interactions are the object of study, more attention must be given to how multilingualism affects each aspect of the process of actually doing linguistic ethnography. In this paper we outline the development of three principles that we put forward as being essential in developing and conducting contemporary linguistic ethnography in multilingual settings. The principles are: 1) Researching multilingually; 2) Researching collaboratively; and 3) Researching responsively.

Keywords
Linguistic ethnography; researching multilingually; reflections; methodological principles

Journal
TESOL Quarterly: Volume 55, Issue 3

People

Dr Colin Reilly

Lecturer in Linguistics, English Studies