Translingual perspectives in decolonizing researcher subjectivity: Reinterpreting subjectivity reconstitution of Chinese immigrants in Canada

This chapter explores the process of decolonizing researcher subjectivity by reinterpreting data from my doctoral thesis through translingual perspectives. Initially rooted in Foucauldian subjectivity theory and Western frameworks, I demonstrate how integrating Asian epistemologies, such as Kuang-ming Chen’s Asia as Method and (Transcending Modernity), enriched my analysis. Revisiting data from Chinese immigrants in Canada, I critique colonial logics in East-West binaries and embrace translingual approaches to reconcile diverse cultural frameworks. 

This approach highlights the limitations of English-centric academic writing and emphasizes engaging with scholarship in non-Western languages. Through examples, including ethnocentrism and colonial constructs like versus “handover of Hong Kong,” I showcase how translingual methodologies deepen understanding and foster epistemological inclusivity. Ultimately, this chapter advocates for globalizing subaltern studies and employing translingual perspectives to challenge dominant knowledge systems and decolonize academic inquiry. Copyright © 2026 selection and editorial matter, M. Sidury Christiansen, Zhongfeng Tian (田中锋) and Suresh Canagarajah; individual chapters, the contributors.