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Part of
Field Research on Translation and Interpreting
Edited by Regina Rogl, Daniela Schlager and Hanna Risku
[Benjamins Translation Library 165] 2025
► pp. 157–178

Chapter 7
The field diary as a resource for (auto)ethnographies of translation and interpreting

ORCID logo | University of Geneva
Although many ethnography handbooks recommend keeping fieldnotes, very few publications have concretely discussed the form and role of a field diary. What can keeping a research diary in (auto)ethnographies of translation teach translation scholars about their research? In this chapter, I present examples drawn from the diary I kept as part of an autoethnographic study of volunteer translation in an organization that promotes vegetarianism and veganism in Switzerland. The examples show that field diaries can be complementary sources of data. They can improve the quality of data collection and provide a space for ongoing ethical appraisal. Research journals also create space for self-reflexivity and theoretical production. Furthermore, they can function as therapeutic tools and fuel academic creativity.
Keywords: field diary, research journal, autoethnography, translation ethnography, committed approaches, volunteer translation, fieldwork
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Definitions
    • 2.1What do I mean by field diary?
    • 2.2What do I mean by autoethnography?
    • 2.3What do I mean by committed approaches?
  • 3.My field and I
  • 4.Findings from the inclusion of a field diary in a translation autoethnography
    • 4.1Another set of data
    • 4.2Recording emotions
    • 4.3A cathartic role
    • 4.4Improving data collection and ethical considerations
    • 4.5Commitment and rapport
    • 4.6Supporting academic production
  • 5.Discussion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
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