The Complexities of Linguistic Positionality in Researching Displaced Ukrainians

Forced displacement, a profound consequence of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has irrevocably altered the linguistic landscapes and identities of millions. This upheaval extends beyond personal experiences, significantly impacting the very methodologies employed in academic research. A recent study, "Reflexive Multilingual Approaches to Researching War-Displaced Ukrainians," delves into the intricate dynamics of conducting qualitative research with individuals who have been forced to flee their homes, highlighting the critical role of linguistic positionality and reflexivity in navigating multilingual interview settings.

The research, published in Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, draws on three empirical studies conducted in Germany and Australia. It meticulously examines how the act of interviewing, understood as a form of social interaction, becomes a complex negotiation of language, identity, and lived experience. The authors, Dariia Orobchuk, Olga Maxwell, Lesya Skintey, and Maryna Hontar, argue that while multilingual interviewing offers access to richer, more authentic data, it simultaneously demands a sophisticated understanding and navigation of linguistic nuances, particularly when participants are sharing deeply emotional experiences.

The Shadow of War: Forced Displacement and Linguistic Identity

The full-scale invasion launched by Russia on February 24, 2022, triggered the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. Millions of Ukrainians, predominantly women and children, were forced to leave their homes, seeking safety in neighboring countries and further afield. This mass exodus has had a profound impact on the linguistic practices of those displaced. Ukraine itself has a complex linguistic history, with Russian and Ukrainian often coexisting, a phenomenon particularly evident in the eastern and southern regions. The war has significantly accelerated a shift towards the increased use and prioritization of Ukrainian, as documented by numerous studies (Kulyk, 2022; 2023b; 2024; Orobchuk, 2024). However, for those displaced, their existing linguistic repertoires, shaped by years of life in Ukraine and their specific migration trajectories, are now further complicated by the trauma of displacement and the new linguistic environments they inhabit.

Navigating the Interview Space: Beyond Words

The core of the research lies in understanding how "linguistic positionality" is negotiated during interviews. This concept refers to how a person’s language use, proficiency, and attitudes shape their identity and their position within a social interaction. In the context of war-displaced Ukrainians, this positionality is not static but is fluid and influenced by a multitude of factors.

The study highlights several key elements that shape participants’ linguistic positions:

• Perceived Language Proficiency and Linguistic Insecurity: Participants’ self-assessment of their language skills, especially in the host country’s language or even in their native tongues under duress, plays a significant role. Linguistic insecurity, a feeling of inadequacy or vulnerability related to language use, can impact their willingness to speak freely or their choice of language.
• Emotional Experiences Tied to Language: Language can become deeply intertwined with emotional experiences, particularly those related to trauma, loss, and displacement. The language used during the interview can evoke these emotions, influencing how participants express themselves. As highlighted by Dewaele (2010), emotions are intricately linked to multilingualism.
• Linguistic Identity: The war has intensified discussions around language and national identity in Ukraine, leading many to re-evaluate their relationship with both Ukrainian and Russian. Participants’ sense of self as speakers of certain languages, and how this identity has been affected by the conflict, is a crucial factor.
• Wartime and Migration Context: The overarching context of war and forced migration provides a backdrop against which all linguistic interactions occur. The constant threat, the loss of home, and the uncertainty of the future all influence how individuals communicate and perceive their linguistic capabilities.
• Interview Topics and Settings: The specific subject matter of the interview, and the physical or virtual setting in which it takes place, can also influence linguistic choices. Sensitive topics may lead to more guarded language or a preference for a language in which the participant feels more secure.
• Researchers’ Language Choices and Attributed Identities: Crucially, the researchers’ own language practices and the language identities they are perceived to possess by the participants also shape the interaction. The study emphasizes the importance of researchers being aware of their own linguistic positionality and how it might be interpreted.

The Interview as a Space for Linguistic Processing and Practice

A significant finding of the research is that for many displaced Ukrainians, the interview itself became a space for more than just data collection. It served as an opportunity for:

• Language Practice: Some participants viewed the interview as a chance to actively use and practice their languages, whether it was their mother tongue or a language they were learning.
• Displaying Linguistic Efforts: The interviews allowed participants to showcase their efforts in navigating linguistic challenges, potentially demonstrating their resilience and adaptability.
• Linguistically Processing Experiences: For some, articulating their experiences in a chosen language served as a form of catharsis, helping them to process the trauma and complexity of their situation. This aligns with research on the role of language in emotional processing and healing (Cook & Dewaele, 2022; Pavlenko, 2012).

The Power and Peril of Multilingual Interviewing

The study strongly advocates for multilingual interviewing as a means to access more authentic and nuanced data. By allowing participants to use the language in which they feel most comfortable and articulate, researchers can gain deeper insights into their experiences, perspectives, and emotions. This approach moves away from a monolingual bias in research, which can inadvertently exclude or marginalize multilingual individuals (Auer, 2007).

However, the researchers caution that this approach is not without its challenges. It demands:

• Nuanced Linguistic Navigation: Researchers must be adept at managing multilingual interactions, understanding codeswitching (the alternation between languages within a single conversation) and language mixing (the blending of languages). This requires a deep understanding of sociolinguistics and the specific linguistic repertoires of the target group (Auer, 1999; Deuchar, 2020).
• Awareness of Interactional Processes: The interview is an interaction, and the flow of conversation, turn-taking, and the management of talk are all influenced by language choices (Sacks, Schegloff & Jefferson, 1974). Researchers need to be sensitive to these dynamics.
• Managing Emotional Openness and Multilingual Fluidity: In contexts where participants are emotionally vulnerable, the fluidity of multilingual expression can be both a gift and a challenge. Researchers must be prepared to handle intense emotional disclosures while maintaining methodological rigor.

Author Contributions and Future Directions

The four authors bring diverse expertise to this critical area of research. Dariia Orobchuk, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hildesheim, focuses on multilingualism and migration linguistics. Olga Maxwell, a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne, specializes in bilingualism and applied linguistics. Lesya Skintey, an assistant professor at the University of Innsbruck, researches second language acquisition in multilingual contexts. Maryna Hontar, a junior researcher at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, brings insights into sociolinguistics and language use in Ukraine.

The study’s findings have significant implications for researchers working with displaced populations and in other multilingual contexts. It underscores the ethical imperative to acknowledge and engage with participants’ linguistic repertoires, rather than imposing a monolingual framework. Future research could further explore the long-term impact of displacement on linguistic identity and the development of "language biographies" for those who have experienced forced migration (Franceschini, 2022; Nekvapil, 2001). Additionally, developing standardized training for researchers on reflexive multilingual interviewing practices could enhance the quality and ethical integrity of studies involving diverse linguistic communities.

The work presented in this paper serves as a vital reminder that language is not merely a tool for communication but a deeply embedded aspect of identity, experience, and the very process of understanding the world, especially in times of profound societal upheaval. As the world continues to grapple with the consequences of forced displacement, methodologies that honor and engage with linguistic diversity will become increasingly crucial for capturing the full human experience.