What is Lost & Found In Translation?
Lost & Found In Translation (L&FIT) is a collaboration of PGRs/ECTs based in all five Methods North West Institutes, and explores the premises, planning, methodologies and ethics of carrying out qualitative and interview-based research. We focus on how and why it is crucial that cross-language research is shared and published in non-extractive ways. In 2026, L&FIT are holding 3 workshops and 1 conference on the many questions of the what, the how, the who and the why involved in carrying out cross-language interviews and academic research. All workshops will include a refreshment break with tea, coffee, and vegan biscuits/pastries.
The Lost & Found In Translation series is funded by the Methods North West Collaborative Innovation Grant.
The Grant has been awarded to Ruth Abou Rached (AMES, MLC), Hanan Alotaibi, Daniel BaldinMachado, Chaimaa Berrazzouk, Dylan Bradbury, Mawgan Glasse, Putri Kristimanta, Jiaqi Liu, Samah Naseem, Dipanjan Saha, Samuel Schmück and Jiayue Zhang.
1. Minding the Gaps in Translation
Minding the Gaps in Translation: how can translation studies help us navigate the realities of cross-language research?
Thursday 5th February 2026, 10 - 1pm, Manchester University
The What: what is translation? The term is used so fluidly across different disciplines and languages that the issue of translation often appears very confusing, particularly for a researcher new to cross-language interviewing and data gathering. What gaps, or issues, of translation then should a researcher consider before planning cross-language work?
Why is the (lone) early career researcher so often left to work things out for themselves? What happens if there are no previous studies that seem to relate to the project in hand?
In this workshop, we explore these questions and share in-depth insights into which theoretical and applied approaches within translation studies can help researchers orientate their project and plan their data gathering accordingly. We assume no prior knowledge in translation studies: the workshop is designed to help you navigate the many issues facing your project, particularly if it falls across diverse disciplines, languages and institutions, each with their own frameworks - and sensitivities- of academic knowledge.
Beyond the critical relevance of contemporary translation, interpreting and inter-cultural studies (TIS) we focus on the realities of using ‘theoretical’ (TIS) concepts to configure and collate data, as a researcher moves through different stages of their project.
Facilitators/speakers: Ruth Abou Rached (AMES, Manchester) Hanan Alotaibi (Manchester), Chaimaa Berrazzouk (Keele), Mawgan Glasse (Lancashire)
Guest speaker: Anna Strowe, Centre for Translation & Intercultural Studies (Manchester)
2. Technologies of Translation
Ethics and practicalities of working with multi-lingual data
Thursday 9th April 2026, 1 - 4.00pm, University of Liverpool
HUB502: Flex 2 on the 1st Floor of HUB502 [liverpool.ac.uk]. Address: 1st Floor, Bedford House, Knowledge Quarter University of Liverpool Conferences & Events, University of Liverpool L69 7ZP Location on the map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/m7rVDtNsWwwhopGe9 [maps.app.goo.gl]
The How: in the age of AI and multiple digital tools available to researchers across many borders, we are often faced with the question of how to deal with the cross-language data from a technical perspective. How can we represent our findings in the most accurate, nuanced of ways to both lay readers and experts alike? What do we do with different ‘sizes’ of cross-language data? What security and confidentiality do different cross-language platforms actually offer to a researcher based in a higher education institution?
In this workshop, you will learn how to use open-source technologies to transcribe audio and video data, translate transcripts from one language to another, and manage multilingual transcriptions. We assume no prior programming knowledge; the workshop is designed to show you how open-source AI tools and machine learning models can be used for translation work regardless of your technical background. You will gain practical experience in setting up your own workflows: from processing a small number of audio recordings locally on your own laptop, to understanding how to use university-provided cloud computing infrastructure (such as N8 CIR) for those working with larger datasets.
Beyond the technical demonstration, we will focus heavily on the ethics of incorporating AI technologies in transcription and translation practices, how to handle sensitive and confidential data that should never be uploaded to any external system, and how to ensure that any translated output accurately represents the original source language.
Facilitators: Dipanjan Saha (Liverpool), Samuel Schmück (Lancaster)
Guest speaker: Henry Jones, Centre for Translation & Intercultural Studies (Manchester)
3. The Ethics of Multi-Lingual Research
Who is (re)presenting who in which language/s?
Wednesday 27 May 2026, Manchester Methods Fair
The Who: of cross-language research, or the questions of who decides what is included – and what is not included - in a cross-language interview is as multi-faceted as the many cross-language research projects happening at any one time.
Who makes the decisions of what is – and what is not- ethical cross-language practice? How does individual researcher positionality impact on the presentation of cross-language at different stages in a project? After all, while English (academese) is a language/script in which many choose to write and share research, it is not the only language language/ script involved in cross-language work, each language/script bringing its challenges. If what could be perceived extractive in one setting may be perceived otherwise elsewhere, how can we reflect on ethical considerations when much could be unknowingly missed?
This workshop will provide space and resources on the impact of carry out cross-languages work in diverse inter-disciplinary settings. We also debate the massive impact of language and the many explicit and implicit expectations coming with this. Throughout this workshop, we explore and debate why one singular clarity of ethical approach may still to be lacking or still in emergence, despite the importance of clarity looming large.
Facilitators: Dylan Bradbury (Manchester), Daniel Baldin Machado (Manchester), Samah Naseem (Lancaster), Putri Kristimanta (Manchester)
Guest speaker: Rebecca Tipton, Centre for Translation & Intercultural Studies (Manchester)
Lost and Found In Translation Conference
Reflecting (on) the gaps, technologies and ethics of cross-lingual and interview-based research
Wednesday 10 June 2026, 9:30am - 5:00 pm, at Manchester University
Thursday 11th June, additional half-day online session (for people not based in the UK)
Confirmed Guest Speaker Rebecca Tipton, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Translation & Intercultural Studies, Modern Languages & Cultures (MLC), The University of Manchester Research is never neutral. Neither is a researcher. The shifting relationships between academic research and wider society have led to the methods of research and the positionalities of researchers often garnering as much interest as the end findings of projects themselves (Tattersall & Spears 2025). While the act of translation is integral to many projects, translation in qualitative and/or interview-based research remains, in many instances, “a cultural and political activity often conducted in imbalanced settings” (Laaksonen 2022). As such, whether a researcher is a Translation Studies scholar or not, they are still compelled to reflect upon cross-language practices and ethics of translation in their work. Such reflections are often carried out with little initial information to hand. This situation urgently calls for an examination of current landscapes of cross-language scholarship and of how scholars, specifically early career researchers, navigate what is ‘lost’ (or found) in their projects due to cross-language mediations and translation becoming part of the work. Researchers from the north-west area and beyond are invited to present papers on their projects, all of which concern diverse formats of cross-language research. The conference also focuses on the future of cross-language innovation, the where and the why of how scholarly findings may be lost, or found in translation: what are the borders of (inter-disciplinary) approaches to translation, transcription and multi-language mediation? Why are the challenges of cross-language research on constant flux? Where do we go from here? This day will include a mix of speakers and panels from a range of disciplines and languages, with opportunities to network and make new connections. The onsite conference (Wed. 10th June) is for ECRs connected to the five universities of Keele, Lancashire, Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester and who are based in the UK. Free vegan lunch and refreshments provided. Presenting scholars residing in the north-west methods region will have their travel costs covered. Presenting scholars based in the region but outside Manchester will have their overnight stay covered so that they can attend the post-conference dinner (without the worry of late-night local transport). You do not need to have attended previous workshops to attend the conference. To support broader international participation, the conference will include an additional half-day session (Thurs. 11th June). This extension is designed to accommodate participants based outside the UK who may face visa, travel, or related logistical constraints. The online session will provide an opportunity for international scholars to engage with the conference and contribute to discussions remotely.
Call for Papers/Posters
The papers/posters can relate, but are not limited, to the following:
-AI/NLP technologies for Translation - Speech Technologies for transcribing cross-language interviews/work - Affect, emotional labour of cross-language research (fieldwork, interviews)
- Cross-language interviews in precarious spaces (censorship, env’t, fieldwork)
- Interviewing groups/individuals who use ‘specialist’ terms - Working with/researching those in the interpreting profession (consecutive, simultaneous, community, ‘elite’, activist, specialised etc.) - Impact of gender, race, and identity in cross-language settings (gendered grammar; geo-political relationalities; language groups; honorifics) -The unexpected arising in cross-language/translation/interpreting settings
Deadline for submitting abstracts: Friday 9th May 2026 (5pm UK time). Decision on acceptance and format of presentation: Friday 16th May 2026.
How to submit/upload your abstract
Abstracts should be up to 300 words and include your name and university affiliation. For the onsite conference please state if you want to submit a paper, a poster or would be open to either mode of presentation.
Scientific Committee for the onsite conference (Wednesday 10th June 2026) Chaimaa Berrazzouk Keele Business School Keele University Dylan Bradbury Modern Languages & Cultures University of Manchester Hannah Gardiner Geography, SEED University of Manchester Mawgan Glasse Japanese Studies University of Lancashire Tianqing Guo Man. Alliance Business School University of Manchester Rabia Keerio Biology, Medicine & Health University of Manchester Putri Kristimanta Politics, Social Sciences University of Manchester Aicha Lahmer Keele Business School Keele University Dipanjan Saha Sociology, Social Policy University of Liverpool Samuel Schmück Corpus Approaches Lancaster University Maxie Ter-Grigoryan Biology, Medicine & Health University of Manchester Jiayue Zhang Translation Studies University of Liverpool Scientific Committee for the online session (Thursday 11th June 2026) Chaimaa Berrazzouk Keele Business School Keele University Aicha Lahmer Keele Business School Keele University Academic support lead Ruth Abou Rached Modern Languages & Cultures University of Manchester Professional support: Joanne Marsh @Methods NorthWest University of Manchester
Any questions? Email: Ruth.Abourached@manchester.ac.uk or methods@manchester.ac.uk who forward your query to a member of the Scientific Committee,