Spaces of linguistic non-understanding

Marie Jacobs & Ella van Hest
Université Libre de Bruxelles | Ghent University | University of Antwerp
Table of contents

The concept of “spaces of linguistic non-understanding” refers to “instances in which the researcher, while collecting and/or analyzing data, encounters (stretches of) interaction which unfold in languages outside their own repertoire” (van Hest and Jacobs 2022: 20). This chapter aims to present and elaborate the concept of spaces of linguistic non-understanding (henceforth spaces of LNU). In doing so, it seeks to demonstrate the concept’s relevance, analytical value and applicability for researchers navigating linguistically diverse settings across diverse research contexts and data types — including observations, interactional data and interviews.

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