Straddling borders : the dilemmas of speaking from, to, for and of

Abstract

This article explores the way the 'native' ethnographer's location within the nation, and the nation's location within the global level, affects the production of knowledge. The production of knowledge emanates from the interplay of subjectivities and the author takes this up in this article. Representation is a situated political act which is manifest in the choice of theories, methodologies and linguistic codes made by researchers. Exogenously trained 'indigenous' researchers tend to appropriate and in so doing adapt 'western' enunciative codes to help them in their attempt to define a situated identity. The issue that is raised in this essay is whether this helps transform scientific conceptualizations and/or just helps to consolidate the power of one type knowledge over other forms of knowledge/s.