Essays in Linguistic Ethnography: Ethics, Aesthetics, Encounters

This book advocates for a linguistic ethnography approach that prioritizes the voices of participants, researchers, and collaborators, challenging the singular gaze of the academic researcher. It incorporates the complexity of individual voices and offers an emic perspective, considering the experiential, aesthetic, emotional, moral, and ethical value people bring to encounters with others. It is an essential addition to research methods courses in applied linguistics and sociolinguistics and a valuable contribution to knowledge about research-based drama, theatre, and creative practice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 12 September 2023
Publisher: Multilingual Matters

This book presents a novel approach to linguistic ethnography that aims to elevate the voices of participants, researchers, and collaborators, rather than relying solely on the singular perspective of the academic researcher. The authors offer a comprehensive account of writing ethnography polyphonically, incorporating the rich diversity of individual voices. By doing so, they challenge the conventional urge to extract meaning and interpret the culture of "the other." The collection of essays in this book fosters an emic perspective by exploring the experiential, aesthetic, emotional, moral, and ethical dimensions that individuals bring to their encounters with others. This book serves as a valuable resource for research methods courses in applied linguistics and sociolinguistics, as well as providing insightful knowledge about research-based drama, theatre, and creative practice.

Introduction:
Linguistic ethnography is a field that has gained significant attention in recent years, as researchers seek to understand the complex interplay between language, culture, and social interaction. While traditional approaches to ethnography have often focused on the academic researcher's singular gaze, this book argues for a departure from that approach. By amplifying the voices of participants, researchers, and collaborators, linguistic ethnography can provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the cultural practices and experiences of different communities.

The Importance of Polyphonic Ethnography:
Polyphonic ethnography involves the inclusion of multiple perspectives and voices in the research process. This approach recognizes that individuals have unique experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds that contribute to their interactions with others. By incorporating these diverse voices, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural practices and meanings that are embedded within social interactions.

Challenging the Academic Gaze:
The book challenges the academic gaze by emphasizing the importance of listening and valuing the perspectives of participants and collaborators. It encourages researchers to move beyond their own biases and assumptions and to engage in a collaborative and reflexive process of research. This approach promotes a more equitable and inclusive research environment, where the voices of marginalized and underrepresented communities are heard and valued.

Writing Ethnography Polyphonically:
The authors provide a comprehensive account of writing ethnography polyphonically. They discuss the challenges and opportunities that arise when incorporating multiple voices into the research process. They highlight the importance of maintaining a clear and coherent narrative while also allowing for the complexity and diversity of individual voices to be heard.

The Emic Perspective:
The book opens up the emic perspective by considering the experiential, aesthetic, emotional, moral, and ethical value that people bring to encounters with others. It recognizes that individuals have their own ways of understanding and interpreting the world, and that these perspectives should be respected and valued. By incorporating these emic perspectives, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural practices and meanings that are embedded within social interactions.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book offers a valuable contribution to the field of linguistic ethnography. By elevating the voices of participants, researchers, and collaborators, it provides a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of cultural practices and experiences. It challenges the academic gaze by promoting a collaborative and reflexive research process and emphasizes the importance of listening and valuing the perspectives of others. This book is an essential addition to research methods courses in applied linguistics and sociolinguistics, as well as an invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding research-based drama, theatre, and creative practice.

Weight: 500g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788925594