By Chalani Ranwala
How can knowledge translation be made more effective in countries where multiple languages are spoken, including many countries in the Global South, as well as countries with large immigrant or refugee populations?
Anywhere in the world, knowledge translation is facilitated through a process of communicating messages to an audience, who will ultimately use that information to inform their own opinions and actions. However, the way that information is perceived, digested, discussed, and passed on is shaped by the environment in which an audience lives. For example, factors such as education, economic status, political climate and cultural norms play a part in how we consume information. Here I focus on one factor – language – building on my work in research communication in Sri Lanka.
Language has a significant influence on the way knowledge translation takes place in bilingual and multilingual countries. For example, Sri Lanka is a tri-lingual nation, according official status to Sinhala and Tamil, with English used for official and commercial purposes. The language in which information is conveyed affects the way that information is perceived and accepted by an audience. Here’s how:
- To begin with, all languages use different metaphors and idioms to construct a message. Hence a message crafted in English will sound very different if it is (directly) translated into a local language.
- Language also affects the way we react to information. For example, Ivaz and colleagues (2016) highlight that “Native languages are acquired in emotionally rich contexts, whereas foreign languages are typically acquired in emotionally neutral academic environments” and their research has supported the contention that, as a consequence, “bilinguals’ emotional reactivity in foreign-language contexts is reduced as compared with native language contexts”.
- Design aesthetics differ according to language. In Sri Lanka, visual content displayed in English (such as in local newspapers) tends to be sombre and minimalist, while the same content displayed in Sinhala tends to be vibrant and colourful. For an example see Fernando (2021).
- Language, particularly in the Global South, doesn’t exist in isolation – it plays a role in a country’s history and identity. In Sri Lanka, a former British colony, English is still perceived as a language of the ‘elite’. This perception can influence the way local language speakers perceive messages disseminated in English drafted by English speakers.
The platforms through which knowledge is disseminated affect the way information is received. Using local languages on platforms that predominantly use English can be ineffective. For example, in Sri Lanka, English-speaking audiences are more likely to express themselves on Twitter (now X); and Sinhala- and Tamil-speaking audiences are more likely to express themselves on Facebook. Therefore, when it comes to disseminating information, mixing languages on one platform may be ineffective.
So, what does this mean for knowledge translation in countries where multiple languages are spoken, either because the population is bilingual or multilingual, as is the case in many countries in the Global South, or because the country has large immigrant or refugee populations? To effectively reach such audiences, knowledge needs to be re-framed to fit the norms, expectations, and experiences of individual language communities. In practice, organisations that produce evidence-based research to inform behaviours and policies need to create separate, original messages in local languages. In essence, for knowledge translation to be effective, we need to step away from translating information directly and move towards creating original messages that resonate in local languages. This switch will ensure greater participation, inclusivity, and accessibility in knowledge translation and make research more impactful.
Once we create original messages, we should also pay attention to where we choose to put out information, as our target audience may choose to consume information from a platform entirely different from the ones we normally use (eg., a website or Twitter (X) account). This approach will often require organisations to have separate communication strategies for different languages and even have separate staff who specialise in storytelling in local languages.
The more organisations become aware of linguistic, social, and cultural nuances that affect dialogue with their audiences, the more equipped they will be to customise their knowledge translation strategies to achieve optimum results.
Do you have examples to share of moving from a ‘one size fits all’ approach to a more adaptable, localised approach? Do you have other experiences to share of the role of language in knowledge translation in the Global South or other countries where multiple languages are spoken?
Source:
This i2Insights contribution is a slightly modified version of Ranwala, C. (2022). Knowledge translation in the Global South: A language perspective. Published in the On Think Tanks (OTT) blog series “Knowledge translation in the Global South: Reflections on the future”. (Online): https://onthinktanks.org/articles/knowledge-translation-in-the-global-south-a-language-perspective/
References:
Fernando, N. (2021). 3 languages, 3 aesthetics, 1 graphic: A case study of visualization in a multicultural environment. Online (19 minute Youtube video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDzKVB2OTYg
Ivaz, L., Costa, A. and Duñabeitia, J. A. (2016). The emotional impact of being myself: Emotions and foreign-language processing. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 42, 3: 489–496. (Online) (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1037/xlm0000179
Biography: Chalani Ranwala MSc is a communication specialist based in Colombo, Sri Lanka with over eight years of experience in research communication, public relations and management. She offers advice, training and creative input on communication strategy and content development to local and international organisations.
Hi Chalani, thanks for this – a really important topic. It’s something I’ve reflecting on a fair bit both in our current programme and a previous one.
In the previous one, we were 6 partnering countries, who could rarely get together in person, and yet some of whom were working together very closely at points. Language was absolutely critical to collaborative working and was quite challenging when fluency was missing.
In our current programme the challenge has not been different first languages as most have English as a first language. Even so, we’ve had such trouble with language and in particular some critical key terms. For example, ‘health’ may seem obvious on the surface, but like the term ‘sustainability’, it can have many meanings: public health, biomedical health, wellbeing, planetary health, mental health, etc. Having clear understanding of these terms is critical as there are significant implications for lack of clarity (e.g. different areas of focus in research, different prioritisation in policy, etc.)
This issue of language has significant implications for inter- and transdisciplinary research on complex real world problems. Thanks for raising it.
Dear Chalani,
your work resonates with our publication (see: https://i2insights.org/2021/11/02/identifying-three-kinds-of-diversity/). We studied the context of South Baltic countries, however, I observed similar issues in Kenya too.
I wonder what context did you study? What kind of organisations did you analyse?
I will share some of my observations. Indeed, having people write original stories in multiple languages is desired, however, I notice that in practice, it is often expensive, it requires special training and extra staffing/time, which organisations often do not have. Have you experienced similar issues? Did you find a way to overcome them?
Moreover, when I was still living in Ukraine and Russian language was suggested to become a regional language, it led to double-management and even more corruption than we had before. I was wondering if you have observed something similar?
Sincerely,
Varvara
Dear Varvara,
Thank you for your feedback and for sharing your article! My piece is based solely on my experience working as a communications professional in Sri Lanka. I work primarily with think tanks, CSOs, NGOs and other development organisations.
You are right, producing content in multiple languages is quite resource heavy. It is rare that one person is fluent enough in all local languages to be able to capture the message accurately in all languages. In the past, I have been lucky to work alongside colleagues who can re-frame messages written originally in English into Sinhala or Tamil (Sri Lanka’s local languages). But this is not always the case in organisations. I think a long term strategic solution is to hire communications staff with bi-lingual/tri-lingual capabilities.
While I have not experienced the exact case of language leading to corruption rather than reconciliation (as desired), I can say that language is very politicised in Sri Lanka, due to our Colonial history as well as language policies that lead to one local language (Sinhala) gaining official status over the other (Tamil). Therefore I think no language exists just as a form of communication. Rather, it carries a lot of historical baggage. Might I suggest the chapter on Sri Lanka in this book, if you are interested in comparing the two contexts – Fighting Words: Language Policy and Ethnic Relations in Asia, edited by Michael Edward Brown and Sumit Ganguly, MIT Press 2003.
Thanks again for your comments!
Best wishes,
Chalani
Your blog article on knowledge translation in multilingual contexts is insightful and addresses a crucial aspect of communication in our increasingly interconnected world. It made me consider what further research would be useful and I share those ideas here:
1) Incorporate Diverse Examples: While the focus on Sri Lanka provides a clear case study, incorporating additional examples from other multilingual countries in the Global South would demonstrate the universality of the challenges and solutions you discuss.
2) Highlight Quantitative Data: If available, integrating quantitative data or case studies showing the impact of language-specific strategies on knowledge translation could provide a more compelling argument. Statistics or results from implemented strategies could offer tangible evidence of the effectiveness of localized approaches.
3) Expand on Technology’s Role: You briefly touch on the use of different platforms for different languages. Expanding this section to include how technology, such as translation tools or AI (artificial intelligence), can aid or complicate knowledge translation in multilingual contexts would be beneficial. Discussing both the opportunities and limitations of technology in this space could provide a more rounded perspective.
4) Address Resource Challenges: Implementing separate communication strategies for different languages can be resource-intensive. It would be helpful to discuss strategies for organizations with limited resources to effectively manage multilingual communication, perhaps through prioritization, collaboration, or innovative use of technology.
5) Include Practical Guidelines: Offering practical guidelines or a brief toolkit for organizations looking to implement these strategies would be a valuable addition. This could include steps for assessing audience language needs, tips for developing culturally sensitive content, or methods for choosing the most effective dissemination platforms.
6) Consider Accessibility Beyond Language: While language is a key factor, other aspects such as literacy levels, cultural nuances, and accessibility (for those with disabilities) also play a significant role in knowledge translation. A brief discussion on these factors would provide a more holistic view of the challenges in knowledge translation.
7) Engage with Counterarguments: Briefly acknowledging and responding to potential counterarguments or challenges, such as the feasibility of creating multiple language versions of content, would provide additional food for thought.
Overall, your article provides a thought-provoking and in-depth look at a complex issue which warrants further investigation.
Dear Alemu, many thanks for your valuable insights and suggestions. You have given me a lot of ideas to expand on this topic further. Specifically, providing practical guidelines and looking at accessibility beyond language are two areas that I am keen to incorporate into my future work. Thanks again and all the best to you!