Simultaneous translation at 5-language Open Space event [long]
Diane Brandon
diane at keysregion.org
Sat Dec 16 05:32:57 PST 2006
You remind me of this email that is making the rounds:
<<This is one of the many tricks to speed reading. They teach you to
look at the frsit & lsat letetr of a word and your brain will fill in
the rest. Pretty cool. If you can read this, you have a strange mind
too. Can you raed tihs?
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was
rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a
rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uiner vtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr
the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit
and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses
and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the
huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a
wlohe.
Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!>>
Diane Brandon, M.Ed., Coordinator
KEYS Coalition (CWC)
Landmark Hill Community Resource Center
518 Rte One Suite 4
Kittery, ME 03904
207-438-9100
Fax: 207-439-8764
diane at keysregion.org
www.keysregion.org
On Dec 16, 2006, at 5:00 AM, Phelim McDermott wrote:
> 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:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
>> Lisa Heft
>> Sent: Friday, December 15, 2006 8:12 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
>>
>> lisaheft at openingspace.net
>>
>> www.openingspace.net
>>
>>
>>
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