Intercultural communication in collaborative translation: language, identity, and social inclusion in Hong Kong

Situated in Hong Kong, this paper reports findings on intercultural communication between 43 participants engaged in collaborative translation and media production through a service-learning course at a local university. The participants are from diverse backgrounds and speak Cantonese, Mandarin, English, Czech, Hindi, and other languages as their first and additional languages. Adopting an ethnographic action research methodology, the data collected include fieldnotes, teaching and learning materials, and transcripts of student presentations and interviews. This paper examines the experiences of participants’ collaboration regarding mutual understanding, collaboration processes, and the development of interculturality. Applying the ‘communities of practice’ theory, the data is analysed vis-à-vis mutual recognition, joint enterprise, and shared repertoire. The analysis reveals challenges faced by Hong Kong’s youth in navigating a multicultural environment and highlights how participants’ behaviour draws upon their cultural and linguistic identities to respond to these challenges, showcasing the potential of collaborative translation to enhance social inclusion.