Meeting in the Middle: Using Lingua Franca in Cross-Language Qualitative Health Research in Papua New Guinea
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Date
30/10/2019
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SAGE Journals for the International Institute for Qualitative Methodology (IIQM) at the University of Alberta, Canada
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Abstract
With words as data, qualitative researchers rely upon language to understand the meaning participants make of the phenomena
under study. Cross-language research requires communication about and between linguistic systems, with language a site of
power. This article describes the use of the lingua franca of Tok Pisin in a study conducted to explore the implications of male
circumcision for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention for women in Papua New Guinea. Utilizing a transformational
grounded theory methodology, researchers conducted an analysis of data from an HIV prevention study. Researchers then
facilitated individual interviews and interpretive focus groups to explore preliminary categories identified during the analysis. Most
focus groups and interviews were conducted in the local lingua franca Tok Pisin, which is neither the researchers’ nor most
participants’ first language. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed. Researchers returned to research participants to
discuss research findings and recommendations. Following critical reflection by the authors and further discussions with participants, it was evident that using Tok Pisin enriched the research process and findings. Using the lingua franca of Tok Pisin enabled
interaction in a language closer to the lived experience of participants, devolved the power of the researcher, and was consistent
with decolonizing methodologies. Participants reported the use of Tok Pisin, em i tasim (pilim) bun bilong mipela, “it touches our
bones,” and enabled a flow of conversation with the researchers that engendered trust. It is critical researchers address hierarchies of language in order to enable cogeneration of quality research findings.
Description
Keywords
cross-language, qualitative research, Papua New Guinea, Pacific, women, grounded theory
Citation
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS, 2019, 18