The following are outlines for the Keynote Speeches which will take place at ECRM 2024
Cross-language Research Methods: Translation and Linguistic Reflexivity
Led by: Susanne Tietze
Cross-language research employs two or more languages. It includes instances where empirical research projects may be designed and executed in one language, but for purposes of publication are translated into English, which is the contemporary and dominant lingua franca for (business and management) knowledge. Cross-language research also includes projects which are multilingual in character in so far as data from several languages is collected. Whatever the specific details of cross-language research, I propose that a) the existence of ‘languages’ in research and consequently, the existence, use and consequences of ‘translation’ have been glossed over in cross-language business/management research and that b) this is because of English is being assumed to be the unproblematic, ‘natural’ and universal language of all (business and management) knowledge.
In this talk I take issue with the monolingual assumptions of much business and management research and draw attention to the (often obscured and unrecognized) role of translation (and interpreting) in cross-language research. In particular, I propose that translators (and interpreters) have agency in the research process and that therefore ‘translation decisions’ (who translates what, when, how much and with how much accuracy and to which consequences) need to be made transparent in the cross-language research process. To this purpose the employment of linguistic reflexivity throughout different stages of the research process is advised to increase research transparency and also with a view to challenge hegemonic assumptions about the relevance of ‘other’ languages in cross-language research.
Excellent Scientific Research: What Does it Mean and why Should we Care About it?
Led by: Marta Agostinho
Excellent research has become a buzzword. But what does it mean exactly and why should we care about it? In this talk, I will depart from my experience at an international organization dedicated to promote excellence in scientific research to identify some of the key ingredients that make research excellent as well as challenges faced by researchers, their organizations, policy makers and funding agencies in performing, hosting, promoting and measuring it.