- So far I have been using the Syracuse library as my main database for finding sources. Although it took a little bit of digging, I was able to find an article that I thoroughly enjoyed in unit 1. I seem to be struggling a little more with unit 2. I have found many scholarly articles on linguistic diversity in the workplace through the SU library (though some are quite lengthy). I am mainly struggling with finding a primary source. The advanced search option has many filters which has helped me obtain some options. Though I have not yet decided which article I would like to focus my attention on. I will spend some time looking for other sources ( especially a primary source) with resources such as Google and Bing.
- My topic that I am choosing to research is unconscious bias of multilingual individuals in the workplace. I was intrigued by the work of one of my classmates on this topic. I believe this was in no small part due to my friendship with multiple immigrants in my department at my job. I am really hoping to find a primary source that is written by someone who has immigrated to the United States and experienced the struggles of being a nonnative speaker. I believe this will be a very valuable source of information to include in my research as they will have first hand experience with these issues. I would like to hear about how they were treated and if they felt valued at work. I would also like to hear about if they were compensated fairly and given the same opportunity to prove themselves as natives of our country have been given. Though I am struggling to find a source that does this. I am going to continue searching the web until I find a primary source that is satisfactory.
Writing and organizational cultures
Dan – I’ll be curious to see what you find out! I have several people on my team whose first language is not English. I’m curious as to how some of the cliches and shortcuts we native speakers take effect their ability to feel a part of the team.
Another important possibility for primary sources–talking with people you know. Interviews can be incredibly valuable primary sources, both ones that have already been conducted by somebody else and ones that authors create themselves. Keep your options open 🙂
I think researching more about this unconscious bias of multilingual individuals in the workplace is a great idea! This was my second choice to do, so I am very interested to see what sources you find. I too work with individuals who speak more than one language at my current summer job, and I always just wonder what the atmosphere is like for them in the workplace and how it differs.
It’s most likely that you’ll find primary sources on the open web–where anybody can publish–rather than in subscription databases (where the work of credentialed scholars is going to be prioritized). That said, you can sometimes get leads from traditional published work–whether it’s names of folks you can then Google or ideas about the kinds of activists or organizations are working on a particular issue (which you can then Google). There’s a certain amount of leap-frogging involved.
Non-profit organizations can be great starting points–they often publish stories about their clients and/or archive materials produced by people who are directly involved. You can also think outside the box here–radio (NPR, especially) and podcasts can be terrific primary sources, places that let us actually hear the *voices* of people with firsthand involvement.