TACTfULNES

The TACTfULNES project introduces a groundbreaking approach to crisis and disaster communication centered around Austria`s rich linguistic diversity. At its core is the innovative concept of trusted accessible crisis translation, which redefines how multilingual communities are involved in crisis communication management during emergencies. Rather than viewing these communities as passive recipients of information, the project positions them as active agents of change, capable of shaping and improving the structures that foster their vulnerability and discrimination. Drawing on insights from Translation Studies, Linguistics, Anthropology, Educational Sciences, Community-Based Disaster Risk Management, and Critical Disaster Studies, TACTfULNES aims to develop inclusive, multilingual, and multimodal strategies for effective crisis communication. The project seeks to answer critical questions such as: What linguistic and cultural resources exist within Austrias diverse communities for crisis communication? How can these resources be harnessed to create inclusive and trusted communication strategies? And how can translators, interpreters, linguistic mediators and service providers in crisis and disaster management be trained to navigate the complexities of multilingual and multisemiotic communication during emergencies? The research is transdisciplinary, involving academic experts, governmental and non- governmental organizations, as well as practitioners and specialists from the field of crisis and disaster management in Austria and worldwide. A participatory and collaborative research approach is employed, combining traditional methods like interviews, focus groups, and surveys with innovative techniques such as participatory action research, imaginative and graphic ethnography, and dramatic-participative methods. This ensures that diverse linguistic communities and key stakeholders are actively involved throughout the research process. The project is led by an interdisciplinary team of experts from the University of Graz: Sebnem Bahadir-Berzig and Raquel Pacheco Aguilar (Translation and Interpreting Studies), Anouschka Foltz (Linguistics), Judith Laister (Anthropology), and Michael Wrentschur (Social Pedagogy). This combined wealth of expertise enables the team to address the complexities of multilingual crisis communication from a range of perspectives. By focusing on the development of sustainable structures in different areas of society TACTfULNES not only addresses immediate linguistic needs in emergencies but also fosters long-term resilience and inclusivity. This innovative framework has the potential to serve as a model for multilingual crisis communication in Austria and beyond, ensuring that no community is left unheard in times of crisis.