Project News

The project team developed new theoretical, conceptual and empirical understandings of processes and practices of translation, interpretation and representation, and also of researching multilingually practices within one integrated project.

The RM Borders project considered for 3 years what it means to conduct research in multiple field sites using multiple languages and to incorporate elements of the creative and performing arts. The political crises and violence affecting refugees, most notably though not exclusively in Europe, came to the fore during the project (Refugee “Crisis” of 2015) and provided a significant contextual impetus for the creative and translation process which led to a dance production (Broken World, Broken Word) devised with the young people of Noyam African Dance Institute and scored by the Ha Orchestra. Ha Orchestra was founded in 2014 by Dr Gameli Tordzro, as part of his PhD with the RM Borders project. The Ha Orchestra is the first professional African Symphonic Orchestra in Scotland

http://www.haorchestra.com/

Ongoing, generative relationships between artists, linguists and researcher culminated in the piece which is a representation of the epic story of exile, war, persecution, resistance and safety told through many different academic and artistic media.

Broken World, Broken Word was performed in Dodowa, Accra, Ghana at the conclusion of RM Borders. The piece was also performed at the Inauguration of the UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts and the Solas Arts and Culture Festival 2017. The collaboration was shortlisted for a UofG Knowledge exchange award in 2017. 

Links:

  • Inaugural Lecture 2017
  • Solas 2017

https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/unesco/events/unescochairannuallecture/apannuallectures/#d.en.626192

https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/unesco/events/solasfestival/solas2017/#d.en.626057)

The performance and accompanying documentary can be viewed online:
Performance: https://vimeo.com/202181462

Documentary: https://vimeo.com/202427382

The work and partnerships developed through RM Borders underpinned further research awards involving PI Phipps including:

The RM Borders work provided critical mass for the award of the UNESCO Chair to the University in Jan 2017 and continues to inform aspects of the New Scots Integration Strategy 2018-22.

Further information on presentations and publications can be found on the project website: http://researching-multilingually-at-borders.com/?page_id=43