“Where you from, who’s your Mob?” Ethical considerations when undertaking Australian aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applied linguistic research

Abstract

In this chapter, we discuss how “yarning” — a traditional way of communicating, making and sharing meaning within Aboriginal society — may work as a research paradigm and methodology for qualitative ethnographic studies in applied linguistics. Yarning involves story telling as part of cooperative conversations and helps in the development of knowledge for all involved in the process, reflecting Indigenous knowledge system. Beyond a cultural practice, it is also gaining increasing recognition as an important and culturally appropriate way to undertake data collection with Australian First Nations people. The chapter suggests that while the yarning space can be a flexible context to co-construct relationships and understanding, there is also a need for caution “to expect the unexpected”. Non-Aboriginal researchers in the Aboriginal space should not be afraid to ask for Aboriginal participants’ feedback and follow-up diligently on this advice.