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In this article, we introduce a complex world of working with qualitative data in multiple languages, modalities and media. We share some of the theoretical considerations that influenced our decisions about when to translate, what and how. We also report some of the multiple possibilities available to the researcher when analysing data in a visual language -in this case, British Sign Languagesharing considerations in choosing one method over another in differing circumstances. Through these discussions we draw attention to how translation issues are both similar and different from working solely with spoken language audio recordings. We then offer suggestions on the reporting and dissemination of results when more than one language is involved and when translation is at the heart of the research. While grounded in empirical Deaf Studies research, the methodological, cultural and theoretical issues raised here concerning translation, representation and 'voice' are applicable across social science disciplines, and particularly where minority communities and unwritten languages are at the heart of research activities.

This study measures whether number and type of morphemes in an elicited imitation string result in a greater number of modifications with L2 experience.Rationale is drawn from L2 working memory processing limitations at distinct levels of proficiency. 38 subjects (L2 Spanish university students) comprise three proficiency groups: beginning, undergraduate majors and graduate s tudents. Number of morphemes was varied within each syllable count; and responses were either correct or modified (lexemically/inflectionally as deletions or substitutions). One or two way ANOVAs determined significance b etween mean proportions for each group. Findings indicate that increases in number of morphemes yielded significant differences, and that while the lowest proficiency group produced higher proportions of lexical deletions, the modifications made by more advanced groups were inflectional substitutions.

Rachel and Donna are hearing, sign-language-using researchers who, since 1989/1999, respectively, have worked in the field of Deaf Studies. In 2008, they were both invited, separately, to present at a conference called “I am Deaf: Deaf Studies in the 21st Century” that caused them to reassess who they are and where they fit with Deaf Studies. Donna presented, and Rachel booked a foreign holiday.

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