Centering Pacific knowledge of time, space, and relationality in community-based translanguaging research: An engaged and fluid temporal methodology

Abstract

In Western perspectives, space and place are often viewed as distinct concepts. Place refers to a specific physical location, whereas space describes the interactions that take place within that location. Time is typically understood as a fixed moment or the interval between moments. In contrast, Pacific perspectives see time, space, and place as interconnected with each other and with individuals. In this worldview, a space or place continues to resonate even after one leaves it, and time is seen as circular rather than linear, linking the past, present, and future. This interconnectedness is embodied in the concept of 'va', which emphasizes the importance of understanding relationships and responsibilities within the community involved in research (cf. Airini et al., 2010). This article argues for the importance of recognizing Indigenous epistemologies and ontologies as valid in their own right, which in this case means recognizing the importance of va in Pacific research. We also present our theorization of an Engaged and Fluid Temporal Methodology, which outlines via five principles how Pacific understandings guided our work with Pacific communities. We then walk through each of the five principles as a methodological guide for community-based research, providing illustrative examples from the Wellington Translanguaging Project. By focusing on principles to research that are imbued with respective Pacific understandings of time, space, and relationships (e.g. va), we argue that this supports the research to remain in and for the communities with which we worked, a core component of Indigenous research methodology.