"Sociolinguistic Research in a 'Foreign' Territory: Challenges and Problems of Fieldwork at a Malawian Hospital"

Abstract

In the paper, I reflect on a sociolinguistic fieldwork that I conducted at a reg ional referral hospital in Malaw i.I discuss some of the problems and challenges of conducting socio linguist ic research in wha t I have chosen to call a ' foreign territory' .In my case, the notion of 'fo reign territory' referred to two situations.The hospita l was a ' foreign territory' to me because I am a sociolinguist, and not a hea lth se rvices profession al. Seco ndly, the research site was cultura lly, ethnically, and ling uistically 'fo reign ' to me.I reflect critically on some of the cha llenges and/or proble ms of conducting soc iolinguistic research in an unfa miliar Community of Practice.

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