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Language Diversity: The Role of Language In Unequal Knowledge Disseminations About Gender, Racism, Nationalism, Ethnic Relations, and Work
Language: English
Integrative session of RC05 Racism, Nationalism and Ethnic Relations, RC25 Language and Society, RC30 Sociology of Work, RC32 Women in Society
This session is concerned with the circulation of scientific knowledge. Identifying the main channels for this circulation on researchers’ initiative (scientific publication, presentations during conferences, civil society addresses (newspaper articles, participation to radio broadcast, etc.), teaching, and research consultancy), the objective of this session is to offer critical approaches of knowledge disseminations looking at language issues.
While scientific publication and presentations during conferences are mainly subjected to the key role of English, other channels are either limited to a given audience or also limited because of the language used for the communication. Initiative like Global Dialogue, ISA multilingual publication, needs a strong support for the translation in various languages. And when submissions in several languages are encouraged, as for example for Language, Discourse & Society, scholars still choose English.
One consequence in this time of digitalization, social networks, and potentially quick dissemination of knowledge, is that language issues are related to greater inequality towards the dissemination. While this question is not new – there was always a time for translation for the spread of (key) sociologists’ works – it challenges again our responsibilities and creativity to reflect and answer to the power, violence, and justice dimension of language.
Focusing on research related to gender, racism, nationalism, ethnic relations, and work, contributions will shed light on the role of language in unequal knowledge disseminations.