Decentering

An approach to designing questions in two languages in which neither of the languages or cultures involved is allowed to dominate. A ‘ping-pong’-like process of formulation and comparison between the two languages is used to develop versions in each language. Any language or cultural obstacles met with are resolved, often by removing or changing wording in one or both languages. The question formulation in both languages then moves on from that modification. Since the process removes culture-specific elements from both versions, decentered questions may be vague and not especially salient for either target population.

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