Translanguaging in Transnational Interview Settings: Rethinking Power and Knowledge in Migration Studies

Drawing on their own empirical study of refugee family reunification in France and Germany, Manuela Barriga Morachimo and Emmanuel Ndahayo delve into the complexities of translanguaging within transnational interview settings. Their research, published with the DOI 10.17169/fqs-27.3.4825, offers a critical perspective on how language operates not merely as a tool for communication but as a potent site of power, deeply intertwined with colonial legacies, institutional hierarchies, and epistemic inequalities. The authors advocate for an intersectional approach to migration research, emphasizing the need for methodologies that are inclusive, context-sensitive, and acutely aware of power dynamics.

The Nuances of Multilingual Encounters in Migration Research

At the heart of Barriga Morachimo and Ndahayo’s work is the concept of translanguaging, which they define as a contextual social practice. Their study, focusing on the sensitive and often challenging area of refugee family reunification, highlights how participants, viewed as co-producers of knowledge, actively deploy a range of linguistic resources during interviews. This approach moves beyond traditional, often restrictive, notions of discrete languages and instead embraces the fluid and dynamic ways individuals draw upon their entire linguistic repertoires.

The research underscores that language is never neutral. It is imbued with historical power structures, including the enduring impact of colonialism, which can create and perpetuate language hierarchies. These hierarchies, coupled with institutional frameworks and differing levels of epistemic authority, significantly shape the interactions between researchers and participants. By adopting an intersectional lens, the authors illuminate how these linguistic practices are inextricably linked to power asymmetries. These asymmetries are not solely determined by language proficiency but are also influenced by a multitude of factors, including participants’ and researchers’ origins, legal status, gender, race, and other intersecting social positions.

The implications of this perspective are profound for the field of migration studies. The authors argue that a rigorous, intersectional analysis allows for a more nuanced understanding of how communicative practices, the attribution of epistemic authority (who is considered to hold legitimate knowledge), and power imbalances are negotiated in multilingual encounters. By treating translanguaging as an epistemic resource—a valuable tool for generating knowledge—their work aims to foster the development of more inclusive, context-aware, and power-reflective methodologies within migration research.

Authors and Their Grounding in the Field

The research is spearheaded by Manuela Barriga Morachimo, a PhD candidate at the University of Siegen. Her doctoral research, part of a larger DFG sub-project on asylum regimes and transnational families of asylum seekers in Germany and France, directly informs this study. Barriga Morachimo’s academic interests span transnational migration, displacement, family dynamics, gender relations, racism, coloniality, and qualitative research methods, providing a rich foundation for her critical examination of language and power.

Emmanuel Ndahayo, also affiliated with the University of Siegen, brings a unique and invaluable perspective to the study. As a political refugee from Rwanda with a doctoral degree from the University of Siegen and a fellowship from the Hans Böckler Foundation, Ndahayo’s research interests encompass transnational migration, citizenship, empirical social research, racism, coloniality, Africanity, and development policy. His prior postdoctoral research within the same sub-project as Barriga Morachimo further solidifies the empirical and theoretical grounding of their collaborative work. Their shared experience in qualitative research, particularly within the context of refugee family reunification, lends significant weight and authenticity to their findings on translanguaging and power dynamics.

The Conceptual Framework: Translanguaging and Intersectionality

The study draws heavily on the concept of translanguaging, a theoretical framework that moves beyond viewing languages as separate, bounded entities. Instead, translanguaging posits that multilingual individuals fluidly draw upon their entire linguistic repertoire to make meaning and communicate. This perspective is particularly relevant in transnational interview settings where participants may not share a common language with the researcher, or where their linguistic practices are shaped by their migration journeys and experiences of linguistic hierarchies.

Complementing translanguaging is the framework of intersectionality, originally developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw. Intersectionality posits that various social identities—such as race, gender, class, and language—do not exist independently but intersect and interact, creating unique experiences of oppression and privilege. In the context of this research, intersectionality is crucial for understanding how linguistic practices are entangled with other power asymmetries. For instance, a refugee’s use of a particular language might be influenced not only by their linguistic background but also by their legal status, their perceived origin, and the researcher’s own positionality.

Empirical Context: Refugee Family Reunification in France and Germany

The research is rooted in an empirical study examining refugee family reunification processes in France and Germany. This context is inherently complex and fraught with power dynamics. Family reunification is a critical pathway for refugees to rebuild their lives and reconnect with loved ones, yet it is often a lengthy and bureaucratic process. The legal frameworks, asylum regimes, and social integration policies in both France and Germany shape the experiences of refugees and their families in distinct ways.

• Germany: Known for its robust social welfare system and, historically, a relatively open approach to asylum, Germany has nonetheless faced significant challenges in integrating large numbers of refugees. The reunification process is governed by strict regulations, and the language proficiency of applicants can play a crucial role in the success of their applications.
• France: France’s approach to asylum and integration has also evolved, with its republican ideals often clashing with the realities of multiculturalism and migration. The administrative procedures for family reunification can be complex, and language barriers can exacerbate these challenges.

By focusing on this specific migratory phenomenon, Barriga Morachimo and Ndahayo highlight how the sensitive nature of family reunification, combined with the inherent linguistic diversity of refugee populations, creates a fertile ground for examining the interplay of language, power, and knowledge production. The interviews conducted as part of their study likely involved individuals navigating these complex legal and social landscapes, making their linguistic choices and strategies particularly significant.

The Role of Language as a Site of Power

The article emphasizes that language is not merely a neutral conduit for information but a "site of power." This assertion is supported by a rich body of literature, including the work of Pierre Bourdieu, who explored language as a form of symbolic capital and a tool for maintaining social hierarchies. Bourdieu’s concept of "linguistic capital" suggests that fluency in certain languages, or specific registers of language, can confer social advantage and authority.

In the context of migration, this can manifest in several ways:

• Colonial Legacies: The historical dominance of certain European languages (e.g., French, English) due to colonialism continues to influence global linguistic hierarchies. Individuals from formerly colonized nations may find their indigenous languages devalued or marginalized in international academic and professional spheres.
• Institutional Hierarchies: Within institutions such as immigration offices, legal systems, and educational bodies, specific language requirements or preferences can create barriers for migrants. The "official" language of a host country often holds greater institutional power.
• Epistemic Inequalities: The researchers highlight "epistemic inequalities," referring to disparities in who is recognized as a legitimate knower and whose knowledge is valued. When research is conducted in a language that is not the participant’s first language, or when the researcher’s language is privileged, it can inadvertently silence or marginalize the participant’s knowledge and experiences.

The research by Barriga Morachimo and Ndahayo aims to challenge these ingrained power dynamics by recognizing and valuing the full linguistic repertoires of their participants.

Translanguaging in Practice: Insights from the Fieldwork

The authors describe how translanguaging was "used during fieldwork." This suggests that their research methodology actively incorporated and embraced the fluid use of languages by participants. Instead of enforcing a single language for interviews, the researchers likely allowed participants to use the language or linguistic resources they felt most comfortable with, and that best enabled them to express their experiences and knowledge.

This approach can involve:

• Code-switching: The seamless switching between two or more languages within a single conversation.
• Code-meshing: The integration of elements from different languages and dialects into a single utterance.
• Leveraging linguistic repertoires: Participants might draw upon vocabulary, grammar, and discourse patterns from multiple languages to convey nuanced meanings.

By observing and analyzing these translanguaging practices, Barriga Morachimo and Ndahayo gain deeper insights into participants’ lived realities, their cognitive processes, and their strategies for navigating complex social and linguistic environments. This contrasts with traditional approaches that might attempt to standardize language use, potentially obscuring valuable information and perspectives.

The Intersectional Lens: Unpacking Power Asymmetries

The application of an intersectional perspective is central to the article’s contribution. It moves beyond a singular focus on language to acknowledge how linguistic practices are interwoven with other dimensions of identity and power. For example, a female refugee from a non-European country might face distinct challenges and exert her linguistic agency differently compared to a male refugee from a European country, even if they are both navigating the same reunification process.

Key intersecting factors explored include:

• Languages: The specific languages spoken by participants and researchers, and their perceived status.
• Origins: National, regional, and ethnic backgrounds, which often carry pre-existing social and political connotations.
• Legal Status: The implications of being an asylum seeker, a recognized refugee, or a temporary resident on one’s voice and agency.
• Positionality: The researchers’ own social locations, including their gender, ethnicity, nationality, and linguistic background, which inevitably shape their interactions with participants.

By explicitly considering these intersecting factors, the authors can provide a more comprehensive and sensitive analysis of how power operates in research encounters. This is crucial for avoiding the risk of researchers inadvertently reinforcing existing inequalities.

Conclusion: Towards Inclusive and Reflective Methodologies

The authors conclude by arguing that an intersectional perspective is essential for developing "inclusive, context-sensitive and power-reflective methodologies in migration studies." This call to action resonates with a growing movement within academia to decolonize research practices and prioritize the voices and knowledge of marginalized communities.

The embrace of translanguaging as an "epistemic resource" is a significant step in this direction. It acknowledges that the linguistic diversity of participants is not a barrier to research but a valuable asset that can enrich understanding and generate new insights.

The implications of this research extend beyond academic discourse. By advocating for more reflective and inclusive research practices, Barriga Morachimo and Ndahayo contribute to a broader conversation about how knowledge is produced, who has access to it, and how it can be used to promote social justice. Their work encourages a critical examination of the researcher’s own role and responsibilities in the research process, fostering a more ethical and equitable engagement with diverse communities.

The reference list provided offers a comprehensive overview of the scholarly landscape that informs this research, spanning key works on translanguaging, intersectionality, qualitative research methods, and the sociology of language. This extensive bibliography underscores the rigorous theoretical and empirical foundations upon which Barriga Morachimo and Ndahayo build their arguments, positioning their contribution within a robust academic tradition while simultaneously pushing its boundaries.