The course Multilingualism – qualitative sociolinguistic research methods is designed for PhD candiates working with qualitative sociolinguistic research methods in multilingual settings. The PhD course is a collaboration between MultiTrans and the SPEAKERS project, and the lecturers are Pia Lane (UiO), Haley De Korne (UiO), Florian Hiss (UiT), Ragni Vik Johnsen (UiT), Åse Mette Johansen (UiT) and Hilde Sollid (UiT). 

Course description and practical information is found on UiT's webpage. Please note that the application deadline for non-UiT students is December 1, 2024. 

Course content: We aim to share experiences from a range of qualitative approaches and research techniques to untangle and explore the complexities of multilingual life, e.g., linguistic (team) ethnography, interviewing, combined and creative methods, and the analysis of semiotic landscapes and other aspects of multilingual spaces. Relevant research contexts may include (but are not limited to) migration, mobility, revitalization and reclamation of minoritized languages within settings such as education (kindergartens, schools, universities etc.), family life, workplaces, leisure and sports or public spaces. The course will highlight different temporal and spatial dimensions of such contexts and how to deal with these methodologically. Further, knowledge in qualitative research is generated in relations between researchers and participants. Researcher-participant relations are never static and may vary largely when we encounter children, adolescents or adults in private, institutional or professional settings. During the course, we will reflect on ethical and ideological aspects of researcher-participant relations.

The course will build on field examples from the lecturer’s research as well as the participants’ own projects.