Exploring the Role of Language Choice: A Catalyst for Transforming Research Dynamics and Relationships

Abstract

With the increasing multicultural and multilingual populations in the United States, health providers and researchers are striving to improve the quality of cross-cultural and cross-lingual interactions and promote more equitable health services, research practices, and outcomes. However, research has raised concerns about neglecting or excluding non-English language options and their speakers, highlighting ethical and power-related issues. In this study, we interviewed 29 international students from diverse disciplines and nationalities to explore the role of language and the potential benefits of multilingualism in qualitative research. At the beginning of the interviews, we explicitly invited participants to choose their preferred language(s). At the end of the interviews, we encouraged participants to reflect on their language choices and usage. Through these reflections, we uncovered several intersecting relationships among participants, researchers, and settings: (1) At the individual level, participants described the cognitive load experienced when narrating in a non-native language, as well as the emotional nuances they felt when comparing it to using their native languages. (2) Participants tailored their narratives to the audiences/researchers, recognizing that cultural knowledge, norms, and culturally appropriate interactions are expected when using certain languages. They also considered the researchers’ positions, selecting a language they believed would be most beneficial to the researchers. (3) Participants’ language choices reflected their assumptions about research and their lifeworld experiences shared during the interviews. (4) By offering language choices and the option to switch languages, researchers transformed participants’ presumptions about research, fostering more transcendent and mutually respectful interactions.