Thanks a lot, dear Arno, Harrison, John and Raffi, for your sharing your
wisdoms and experiences!
Background of my question was, that based on my international online work with
OpenSpace-Online, I know how important translations and single words are. No
question: face-to-face OST is the most unreachable enriching and powerful way
(for facilitators and for participants) to do meetings and that here the words
can become quickly secondary. My big bang visionary momentum was based on the
deep love to f2f OS and it was totally without words - it was just knowing and
seeing. And over the years, having so much to do with different cultures across
distances and with groups who are not able to meet f2f and who are
communicating not in their first language, I know how different the "meaning of
a phrase" can be understood in our world.
Thank you all and have a great day!
Warmly,
Gabriela
----- Original Message -----
From: John Engle
To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 2:16 AM
Subject: Re: whatever happens...
Thanks for your response, Arno.
It's so important that translation captures the essence.
In Haiti, the direct translation of the principle uses the same language that
has been used in the past by radical groups indicating, "if your car get's
blown up, if your windshield or head get's crushed by a rock or a bullet, it's
that what happened. We're on the warpath for change. Violence and destruction
is likely to happen."
John
Arno Baltin <a...@tlu.ee> wrote:
Dear Gabriela, and others,
In Estonian the printciple is translated so that "what ever happens" is
understood as something that will happen in future (although we dont
have grammatical future). At the same time "happens" has in everyday use
mostly negative connotation. When a child comes to parent with unhappy
face, the parent will probably ask "what happened?". Or there is a
saying "we will be friends whatever happens". So when people first time
hear the principle of "what ever happens" in OS it sounds a bit like a
warning that things might go "wrong" but there is still no need to worry
about it. If in English "happens" and "happy" sounds quite similar (at
least to foreigners ear) then in Estonian closest association with
"happens" is "accident".
with best regards,
Arno
Gabriela Ender wrote:
> Dear John, and others,
>
> I want to come back to your wonderful thoughts regarding this
> principle because I like the way you have been experimenting in
> Haitian Creole and in English with very much: "*What Happens is what
> happens - learn and move forward."*
>
> And you have added: "This principle helps us to not lament over
> should'ves, to not wallow in regrets. We're all responsible for how we
> use our time and space together during this meeting. Let's assume that
> responsibility and be prepared to accept what happens and to
> continually strive to learn and to keep moving forward."
>
> I totally agree and I like they way you describe it!
>
> I have a question. Would it be also okay to say: "*What happened is
> what happened - learn and move forward*." ? I mean "What happened is
> what happened" (it is past - so we cannot change it anymore) and
> "learn and move forward." is present ... with responsibility in my/our
> "here and now".
> "What happens is what happens" sounds for me (as a foreign English
> speaking person) like it is the present and for "here and now" we are
> responsible ... how we use our time. Therefore I think that
> changing the first part of this principle variant "into past" could
> express the "when its over its over" in it a bit better and would make
> a distinction to present and concsious responsibilty.
> I would appreciate your and the opinion from others a lot. Thank you
> very much!
>
> Warmly,
> Gabriela
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www.johnengle.net Open space facilitation
www.circlesofchange.com Participatory learning and leadership
www.harvesttime.cc Harvesting for justice that all may have enough
telephone Haiti: 509-461-3067
email: j...@johnengle.net
telephone: 202-236-6532
fax: 202-449-8343
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