Self-translations in multilingual workplace interaction

Arnulf Deppermann*, Ibrahim Cindark, Lari Kotilainen, Salla Kurhila, Inkeri Lehtimaja

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

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    Abstract

    In multi-lingual workplace interaction involving L2-speakers with different levels of proficiency, L1-speakers can be seen to use self-translation of their own prior contributions as a repair-practice to restore intersubjectivity. This paper shows that self-translations are produced in three environments: (a) in response to repair-initiation by recipients, (b) in response to inadequate or missing responses, (c) after disaffiliative responses in order to elicit a more favorable uptake. Self-translations therefore are not only used to deal with linguistic understanding problems, but can also use linguistic diversity as a resource for dealing with lack of affiliation and alignment. Self-translations are produced by a switch to the addressee’s L1 or to a lingua franca. They are only partial, being restricted to a translation of the core semantic content of the turn to be translated, thus relying heavily on a shared understanding of the pragmatic context and being designed so as to support interactional progression. Data come from video-taped meetings in Finland involving Finnish and Russian L1-speakers and various kinds of professional trainings in Germany involving instructors with German as L1 and refugees with various linguistic backgrounds.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)507-540
    Number of pages34
    JournalIntercultural Pragmatics
    Volume21
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2024
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Keywords

    • conversation analysis
    • multilingual practices
    • second-language conversation
    • self-translations
    • workplace interaction

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