narratives of three generations of urban middle-class - eTheses ...

Most interviews were audio recorded and in some cases also audio-visually recorded
with full consent of the subject. In some cases subjects were conscious of this external
device and politely denied its usage. Some of whom had agreed, had agreed on the
condition that a copy of the same be given to them after the interview. Recordings were
facilitated through note-taking undertaken whenever possible, particularly when it would
not hinder the flow of interview. In cases where it was thought to have possibly been an
interruption into an emotional flow of storytelling, notes were written down on
sociological significant analytical themes, at the earliest next opportunity of the
interview.
Subjects’ reported speeches and interview ‘texts’ that were often bilingual in nature
have been translated from Bengali to English. These translations have been presented
within double inverted commas and italicized with English words originally used by
subjects themselves in their bilingual narrations, presented within single inverted
commas. This technique of translation and presentation was undertaken to ensure
reproducing the intended meaning of subjects’ narration as far as possible and to bring
out the cultural politics of using the English language to describe intimacy in specific
contexts within the Bengali bhadrasamaj.
As stated therefore, the interview ‘texts’ in vernacular were translated in ways that tried,
as far as possible, to retain the original intended meaning of the narration and the
contextual cultural backdrop. However, vernacular narratives often invoked terms and
emotions that were culturally specific in both language and feeling and therefore
challenged a direct translation. The process of translation from one cultural context to
another, in this sense is always one of translation of ideas, emotions, and punctuations.
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