Hi there Lisa,
If I had to do an open space for people with five different languages
as a performer i would have no hesitation now i know the format to do
the introduction in a language no one understands Gibberish!
Over the years training actors to use Gibberish IE made up sound
language I have been amazed by what actually gets communicated by the
voice and the body. Indeed after practice and clear feedback about
what people get good gibberish speakers can communicate virtually
anything in nonsense language. (except perhaps trade names). For
further guidance check out Viola Spolins improvisation for the theatre.
I can well understand that seems too far out for someone not used to
that but I WOULD recommend actually trying a rehearsal of the intro
IN GIBBERISH without anyone there to discover which bits of the
process are being communicated not by the words but by other means to
reassure you people will get it in whatever language you are speaking.
Phelim
On 15 Dec 2006, at 21:29, Wendy Farmer-O'Neil wrote:
Hi Lisa,
Just some initial thoughts…
Once you hit five language groups you have gone from complicated to
complex! No wonder your super brain is fried! A complex challenge
requires a complex response: so why not Open Space for it? Would it
be possible to convene a small OS (or online) with representatives
from each of the groups both literate and non-literate, to create
the action plan for providing accessibility support? I have had
recent conversations with both Brian B. and a GCP colleague,
Marquis Bureau, who have wrestled with some of these issues. One
of the insights we uncovered was that these groups have ways of
communicating and functioning that are unknown to us and that we
need to access their expertise in oral/non-literate and minority
language culture.
Cheers from another rainy coastland,
Wendy
From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of
Lisa Heft
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2006 8:12 AM
To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Subject: Simultaneous translation at 5-language Open Space event
[long]
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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