McGilp, Emma L. (2017) A dialogic journey into exploring multiliteracies in translation for children and a researcher in international picturebooks. PhD thesis. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/8242/ Copyright and moral rights for this work are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This work cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Enlighten:Theses http://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] A dialogic journey into exploring multiliteracies in translation for children and a researcher in international picturebooks Emma L. McGilp BA (Hons), M.Ed. Submitted in fulfilment of requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Education College of Social Sciences University of Glasgow October 2016 2 Abstract In today’s increasingly digitised world, we communicate both locally and globally across different languages, modes and media. Since the New London Group’s (1996) seminal ‘Pedagogy of Multiliteracies’ some twenty years ago, there have been further significant developments in the way we communicate, with the 21st century considered ‘the great age of translation’ (Bassnett 2014:1). Yet despite the increasing number of multilingual, multimodal texts we encounter, classrooms continue to teach traditional, monolingual print- based models of literacy. This research is therefore primarily in response to this rapidly evolving context, with a curiosity as to how international picturebooks might develop the skills learners need to succeed both now and in the future. The research process has been a journey comprising two separate phases of empirical study as I have sought to find out the best way to approach this topic. My initial focus, Phase One, was exploring the visual literacy skills of EAL learners and I completed a project in a primary school in Glasgow. As a result of the emerging findings, the research then changed in two ways – to a whole class approach comprising both bilingual and monolingual learners, and to a focus on translation. Phase Two comprised two whole class projects in the Scottish Borders, with my overarching question: How can translating both the verbal and visual in international picturebooks develop the multiliteracies learners require in the 21st century? In my discussions of multiliteracies, I have focused on four different areas: visual, critical, digital and intercultural literacies. Learners’ visual literacy skills were developed through their recognition of the cultural codes in visuals. Their critical literacies were developed through the recognition of power in texts, through deconstructing and reconstructing texts and seeking multiple perspectives. Digital literacies were improved through the critical retrieval of information online and through using tools such as Google Translate and, like Gilster (1997), I have suggested a key component of digital literacies is having an open mind as to the possibilities of emerging technologies. I also argue that intercultural literacy should be included under the umbrella of multiliteracies, in order to provide learners with the tools to navigate the increasingly multilingual, multicultural spaces they are likely to encounter, and offer tentative findings which show how translating international picturebooks has helped to develop these skills and attitudes. Prior to concluding the thesis, I briefly consider alternative lenses for the research, in particular Critical Race Theory, identity and translingualism. I then sum up the project in Chapter 11 and make some key recommendations, including the need for multiliteracies to be explicitly acknowledged in the curriculum and for international picturebooks, including those in the first languages (L1s) of the bilingual learners, to be introduced into classrooms to challenge the dominance of English and ‘what counts’ as reading. Alongside a discussion as to the limitations of the research and possible future directions, the thesis concludes with a call for both academics and educators to consider how the gap between research and practice might be reduced, to enable research such as this to have an impact on today’s literacy learners. 3 Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... 2 Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................ 3 List of figures ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Acknowledgement .............................................................................................................................. 9 Dedication ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Author’s declaration ......................................................................................................................... 11 Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................... 12 Epigraph ............................................................................................................................................ 13 Chapter 1. Introduction: Setting the scene ....................................................................................... 14 1.1 A dialogic approach ........................................................................................................... 14 1.2 Interests, background and positionality ........................................................................... 16 1.3 The (constantly evolving) context ..................................................................................... 17 1.4 My approach to culture .................................................................................................... 19 1.5 The research journey, aims and questions ....................................................................... 20 1.5.1 Two separate phases ................................................................................................ 20 1.5.2 Phase One ................................................................................................................. 20 1.5.3 Phase Two ................................................................................................................. 22 1.6 Finding the ‘right line’ ....................................................................................................... 23 1.7 Overview of the thesis ...................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 2. Language and Translation ............................................................................................... 28 2.1 What is language? ............................................................................................................. 28 2.1.1 A semiotic approach ................................................................................................. 30 2.1.2 Social Semiotics ......................................................................................................... 33 2.2 Translation ........................................................................................................................ 34 2.2.1 What is translation? .................................................................................................. 35 2.2.2 Translation frameworks ............................................................................................ 36 2.2.3 Translation or adaptation?........................................................................................ 37 2.2.4 Dialogic translation ................................................................................................... 38 2.2.5 The 21st century – the great age of translation ........................................................ 39 2.2.5.1 Translating multimodal texts: a semiotic approach to translation ....................... 40 2.2.5.2 Translating visuals ................................................................................................. 41 2.2.5.3 Machine Translation: the ongoing debate ........................................................ 43 2.2.6 Children as translators .............................................................................................. 45 2.6 Key points to take forward ............................................................................................... 47 4 Chapter 3. Learners and literacies .................................................................................................... 49 3.1 Languages in the classroom .............................................................................................. 49 3.1.1 Defining language learners ....................................................................................... 49 3.1.2 Language and identity ..............................................................................................