Dear Lisa,
What an interesting question !
Reading your story I wondered what would happen if:
- you opened space a few times in the same location (in a different
language each time), but different groups having access
to eachother's agenda's and discussions;
- you did a training for a small group of facilitators who each could
facilitate an Open Space in their language;
I may be biased by an experience I once had with the Danish extension
service: providing services to Danish farmers.
A regional extension organisation wanted to identify future needs of
the farmers in their area. But basicallly they also
felt that they actually knew what these were - almost better than the
farmers themselves.
In the end an Open Space with farmers only was held, which produced a
rather different and innovative picture of what
was needed, and unfortunately for the extension service, much of what
was needed could be provided by self-organisation
of the farmers.
So I wonder ........
Greetings from Holland,
Gerard Muller
Open Space Institute Denmark
Phone: (+45) 21269621 Skype: openspace1
Mail: g...@openspace.dk
On Dec 15, 2006, at 5:12 PM, Lisa Heft wrote:
Hello, dear colleagues –
I am facilitating an event which will be in 5 languages.
It is a conference for immigrant farmers and the people who provide
services, support, advocacy, education and funding for them.
The languages spoken will be English, Spanish, Hmong, Lao, and Maay
Maay (Somali Bantu language).
I have indeed facilitated Open Space where many more than 5 languages
were spoken – and while there may sometimes have been a translator on
headset for one or two main language groups other than English (my own
language), others in the group with other language needs simply sat
with friends from their countries and translation was handled casually
as folks sat together grouped by language in the big opening circle.
Signs for principles, law, theme and so on were of course in those
several languages. And in the discussion sessions folks helped each
other translate, no matter what was the language. I have had some
clients provide translators to walk around and offer help during the
discussion sessions – and though these folks are greatly appreciated
they are often smilingly waved away because the participants have
self-organized to take care of each other. Still, I think it is an
important support (and message of dedication to inclusion and access)
for a client to provide these roaming translators, if they have
capacity to do so. And some discussion groups do indeed use them.
Also, in these events, the ‘main’ language, the language of the
conference, was in English, or Spanish, or some other main language.
What I mean is that most participants were bilingual - could speak
both their home language and the main language of the conference in
whatever country it was in.
In this upcoming event, however, there will be about 5 main languages
spoken and many participants in each of those language groups. And
there will be a large percentage of monolingual people (only speak
their own language).
I think technology (headsets and simultaneous translators) can help in
this situation, and this client has that capability. To have 4 people
walk the circle with me (which I have done before with 1 or 2 people)
and repeat my words in other languages (and discussion session
convenor’s words when they announce their session topics) would take 4
times as long. It is doable, but hard on the energy for listeners.
Also: to create written topic signs – these might be in any of the 5
languages – how to help all participants know all possible sessions
they could go to?
It sounds quite complicated. Or maybe I just have ‘Fried Brain
Syndrome’ and I’m just not seeing the simple solutions here…
I would love to hear your experiences and recommendations for
translation during the event. This client has funding and capability
for various solutions – if you can help me think this out and add what
you have done that has worked for you I would greatly appreciate it.
We have:
___________________________________
Activity – Plenary – welcome, introduction of principles-law-process
(full group – 250 people)
What’s Happening
Lisa speaks English – so, I think, may the hosts
Solution
Everyone on headset, 4 translators translate Lisa’s words to their
respective-language participants. (By the way, when they register,
participants are asked to identify their language needs – many of them
have NGO representatives who are helping them register.)
Other ideas?
___________________________________
Activity -- Announcing topics and making those topic signs
What’s Happening
Convenors would speak in any of their 5 home languages to announce
their topics
Solution
(Question: we are all on headsets and I understand how on our headsets
is one translator – which is who we listened to when just Lisa was
speaking – what to do when we each must switch to then hearing a
translation *to* our own language *from* any one of 4 other languages?
One option is the lower-tech version where 5 translators are at
microphones and the convenor’s session title is repeated 4 times)
Another issue: convenors may not all be able to read and write. Over
50 or 60% in this conference will be able to read. Shall we have all
session convenors come up to a table with 5 translators sitting at it,
tell their topic and have the translators write the languages on a
flip-chart page as the one topic sign? And when their sign is done
the convenor walks with it into the center to announce her/his topic,
and other translators on headset (or in person at microphones)
translate that topic title verbally as they announce it? And: how
will non-readers know what each session’s set of topics is? I could
adjust the design – we could do one round of announcing / sessions at
a time, so people could hear just one set of sessions announced, then
break out and go to those sessions, then reconvene in full circle as
the next set of sessions is announced, and so on. There are probably
20 sessions possible at a time. Can people retain this sort of audio
memory?
See how complicated I am making it? Or am I solving the problem?
Other ideas?
___________________________________
Activity -- Discussion sessions (probably 20 discussion areas)
What’s Happening
In past events some of my clients have provided roaming translators.
Some groups might of course meet *by* language. So maybe the other
mixed-language groups would just signal roving translators’ help for
whatever language they don’t have the capability to casually translate
into. But maybe they would need to ask for several translators. What
are your ideas and experiences? Remember – the translators may only
know their own language + English.
Solution
By the way, perhaps every person registering could receive colors for
their name badge indicating the languages they speak. The translators
could also have colors on their badges. In this way the full group
could see how their language needs could be met by the people sitting
around them in addition to the roaming translators. Other ideas?
Other ideas?
___________________________________
Activity -- Documentation of discussions
What’s Happening
Not all of these participants read and write.
Solution
One idea is to post a scribe who ‘lives’ at each discussion area and
sits with a laptop or flip-chart. This person will need translation,
too, perhaps, if the languages spoken in their little groups is not
theirs. And I am guessing it would be easiest for this client if the
scribe wrote in English (the client could have the Book of Proceedings
translated post-event into participant languages). I just choose
English as one language (the client’s language and that of about 50%
of the mono- and bilingual participants). I am guessing that it would
be even better for this scribe to be bilingual English-Spanish (thus
handling 2 out of the 5 languages, Spanish perhaps being the next
largest language group at this event). Having a scribe at each
discussion area might still mean having a Newsroom – scribes could
have some time at the end of each day to input and finalize their
session notes. Documentation may also include graphic recording,
digital photos (later shared electronically and in hard-copy) and
other documentation methods for non-readers.
Other ideas?
___________________________________
Activity -- Evening event
What’s Happening
This will perhaps be musicians of a few different cultures/countries
and 3 farmers telling their experiences through story. The 3 farmers
will be speaking each a different language.
Solution
If the musicians sing something, the text could be pre-translated for
those who read. But / and I somehow feel that art can be *felt*, as
well. And I would like the graphic recorders to be creating
documentation during this activity, as well. I am guessing we would
once again all be on headsets to hear the stories in our own
languages. Perhaps we should include ear massages, too! ;o)
Other ideas?
___________________________________
Please feel free to tell me if and where I am making this much more
complicated than it needs to be. However, the client and I would love
to provide more support to individuals who are non-English speakers as
a way to equalize their access and inclusion in this event.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences,
Lisa
___________________________
L i s a H e f t
Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
O p e n i n g S p a c e
lisah...@openingspace.net
www.openingspace.net
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