![]() Resource considerations Firstly, effective interlingual communication requires resources, and is important to incorporate budget lines for translation/ interpretation from the design and planning stages of the program cycle. He suggests making sure your evaluation is budgeted at local market rates for interpreters and translators, you allow for interpreter overtime and translation rush fees, and remember to budget for interpretation equipment.
Engage Local Experts and Clarify Terms Unless you are conducting an evaluation on a subject in which you have technical training, in your native language and your native country, it is critical to consult with local experts (and interpreters) on the evaluation subject and define commonly-used terms, as even the same term in the same language may have different meanings in different countries/ regions. · Best Practice: Treat interpreters as part of your evaluation team. Orient them to your research process and interview/focus group techniques, and debrief afterwards Cultural Context To ensure “do no harm” principles are upheld and to achieve effective information exchange with affected populations, an understanding of the cultural context is fundamental. Even working with the best interpreter, external evaluators who don’t speak the language of people participating in their evaluation will inevitably miss some cultural context, and a failure to make proper investments in understanding the cultural and social landscape can derail an evaluation. For additional tips and other “rad resources” on conducting evaluations in a foreign language, see the full post, here. |