Translation memos help researchers make visible the decisions that sit between a participant’s words and the text used for analysis. They can be brief: note the original expression, possible alternatives, the chosen wording and why it matters analytically.
Useful prompts include: What meanings were difficult to carry across? Which cultural or disciplinary assumptions influenced the choice? Did the translation make the quotation sound more certain, formal or individual than the original?
Reviewing these memos as a team can reveal patterns and disagreements that would otherwise remain hidden. They also provide an audit trail for methods sections, collaborative interpretation and later reflection.
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