Simultaneous translation at 5-language Open Space event [long]
Harrison Owen
hhowen at verizon.net
Fri Dec 15 15:26:18 PST 2006
Head-Banger for sure! But one thing I would be really cautious about is the
techno-fix. Having been involved in a number of simultaneous translation
situations - I am not really sure how much you would be gaining. The only
time it would actually work is in the opening and that accounts for 15-20
min. More to the point it is not really necessary that everybody understands
what you are saying. 15 years ago I had a group of 500 sugar plant workers
in Latin America. I would guess that the level of English comprehension was
about 0.2%. I did have a Cuban who did a spotty (brief) translation - but
very brief. As near as I could tell everything worked just like usual. After
the first 2-3 participants stood up to announce their issues, everybody else
quickly got the picture. And from there on out, the whole thing ran in
Spanish - which I didn't speak nor really understand. Now that is not 5
languages, but my money is still on the People. They WILL figure a way if
they truly want to. Of course, their level of desire will be directly
related to their "Care Quotient." How important do they really think this
whole thing is? How much do they really want to participate? If folks are
there mostly because they are "supposed to be" - and that "supposed to be"
is actually dictated by the sponsor who has accepted a contract to bring
these folks together, and has therefore collected the appropriate number of
bodies. . . I am not sure that the Caring Quotient will be high enough to
carry the day. On the other hand, if people see this whole thing as a matter
of genuine concern (life and death concern would be great) - they will find
the way. On that score, I really like Wendy's suggestion that you ask the
participants. Might even do it in a rather challenging way - How are they
going to solve this problem????
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland 20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute <http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Lisa Heft
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2006 11:12 AM
To: OSLIST at 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
<mailto:lisaheft at openingspace.net> lisaheft at openingspace.net
<http://www.openingspace.net> www.openingspace.net
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