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Article published In:
Multilingualism and Mobility in the Twenty-First Century: New Trajectories and Possibilities in Migration Linguistics
Edited by Ariane Macalinga Borlongan and Lisa Lim
[AILA Review 37:1] 2024
► pp. 156–176
Approach

Rethinking researcher-participant roles

Ethics of care and collaboration in the migration linguistics of precarious migrants

ORCID logo | Southern Luzon State University
 | Southern Luzon State University
 | Southern Luzon State University
 | Southern Luzon State University
Recent studies on language and migration have attempted to address the social injustices stemming from global disparities in wealth and opportunities. However, there’s a risk of researchers unintentionally reinforcing traditional power dynamics, positioning themselves in power while reducing participants to mere data sources. Focusing on migrants in precarious living conditions, whose migration is often a consequence of political and economic upheaval in the origin, this paper interrogates the role of researchers and the researched with respect to social justice perspectives. We argue that conducting research on, for, and with such vulnerable migrant populations requires a reflexive understanding of our own positions and decisions throughout our engagement with participants. We propose that this approach is most effectively executed if we treat participants as equal partners in knowledge generation and social action, guided by principles of care, empathy, and unconventional methodologies. Through this, we hope to advocate for migration linguistics that is truly fair, just, and empowering among migrants.
Keywords: research as partnership, ethics of care, multilingual mobilities, migration linguistics
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Migrants in precarity: Who and why?
  • 3.Understanding researcher roles and impact on the researched
    • 3.1Positioning ourselves as researchers
      • An objective recorder?
      • The voice of the voiceless?
      • An instrument of research
    • 3.2Positioning study participants
      • Immobile migrant vs. mobile expats?
      • A ‘migrant’ only if in precarity?
      • Victims needing extraordinary support?
      • Agents capable of self-identification and determination
  • 4.CARE for migrants in precarity: Some ethical (re)considerations
    • Complete transparency
    • Avoiding stigmatization or re-traumatization of participants
    • Resolute commitment to privacy and confidentiality
    • Embracing cultural and linguistic sensitivity
  • 5.Conclusions: Treating participants as partners in knowledge generation & social action
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 4 June 2024
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/aila.23014.gui
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