[OSList] Bi-lingual open space

[Michael M Pannwitz]

Dear Harrison,
just excited myself with a study on the behavior of 3 year old kids in 
tests that were also conducted with various kinds of monkeys... in 
essence it showed very clearly that cooperation, helping each other, 
working together on complex taks was apparently "natural" to humans age 
3 (unlike for the monkeys). My serious hunch, call it conviction or 
certainty, is that humans not only have developed these characteristics 
over I dont know how many zillions of years but humans have also created 
all kinds of organisations and processes (instruments of control) to 
definitely suppress or even eradicate these natural capabilities human 
infants show at age 3. So, my conclusion is, that its a good idea to 
expand space for selforganisation, or put it differently, step back, let 
individuals and groups figure out the stuff that I and many of us think 
we have to organise to "facilitate" them into "getting it".
Tell you the truth, I am one of the great facilitators and unlearning 
has been a real challenge. In fact, having some young (compared to me 
with 72) os-workers in the os-teams that keep telling me to step back, 
take a nap, go for a walk, read a book has been wonderful medicine for me.
Cheers from Berlin where I am looking forward to the London WOSonOS in 
October....
mmp

As to the 6th principal, I think it could go something like this:
"If thinks really selforganize without a facilitator around its a good 
bet you have ended up in a bar (or are at a Stammtisch)"


On 03.03.2012 17:40, Harrison Owen wrote:
> Chuni—Several languages. Wonderful! Having been “there” multiple times –
> once with 15 different languages – I have always found it the richest of
> experiences. If you follow all the wonderful, detailed suggestions of
> Lisa I know it will turn out just grand. But personally I find myself
> much closer to Katia. I guess that is not surprising considering my
> affection for thinking of one less thing to do.
>
> My approach comes from some considerable experience in good
> international bars (go ahead and say something nasty about martinis J) –
> and one of the things I have always noticed and enjoyed was that as the
> evening went along, anybody who really wanted to talk to anybody else
> always managed to accomplish their desire. The conversation might take a
> little time and pass through multiple languages and persons, but the
> essential messages were always delivered. Self organization at work, I
> think. And something else happened along the way. As people were helping
> people they bonded in the process. By evening’s end, total strangers had
> become pretty good friends. Doubtless the alcohol helped, but there was
> more than that – related to the fact that helping each other is a good
> thing in itself. And all of a sudden the disparate languages became a
> positive support for emerging community.
>
> So I advocate using the Principles of a Good International Bar (Is that
> the 6^th Principle?). When people want to communicate, they will do that
> and the effect of their effort goes way beyond the simple passage of
> words. To help out, I have used little lapel flags representing
> languages spoken (like the airlines) – so if you were looking for
> somebody who spoke Serbo-Croatian you might find them. This can help
> when you only have two languages – however, it is almost easier just to
> ask people (that is a nice civil thing to do). Bottom line in my
> experience is that language is a problem only if you make it one. If the
> people care, they will find a way, and be stronger for the effort.
>
> Harrison
>
> Harrison Owen
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>
> Potomac, MD 20854
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> USA
>
> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
>
> Camden, Maine 20854
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> Phone 301-365-2093
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> www.openspaceworld.com
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> *From:*oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf Of
> *chunili2000 at yahoo.com
> *Sent:* Friday, March 02, 2012 9:29 PM
> *To:* World wide Open Space Technology email list
> *Subject:* [OSList] Bi-lingual open space
>
> Hello All,
>
> I am working on a state-wide initiative to bring people together to
> address "How Can Creativity and Innovation Revitalize New Jersey."
>
> One of the communities we are planning an open space for has a large
> Spanish speaking population. To host an inclusive event, we very much
> want to include these people who don't speak English.
>
> Does anyone have experience organizing a bi-lingual open space?
>
> Did you use a translator? Did you repeat everything in both languages?
> How did you handle the break-out discussions?
>
> Thank you so much for sharing!
>
> Chuni Li
>
> New Jersey
>
>
>
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-- 
Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
++49-30-772 8000
mmpanne at boscop.org	www.boscop.org


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