[OSList] How to deal with having many languages in open space?

Wed Oct 16 21:52:44 PDT 2013

Seconding these many excellent points from Dianne.  I have recently facilitated events in Estonian, Turkish, Irish and French and I only speak French passably. We worked with either translating instructions or with whisper translation to those that needed it and offered the principle that whoever needs help can ask for it.  People are always ready to help translate if they know that it is the job of the community to supply the resources for understanding rather than the job of the host.  

Kindness and help is a great gift.

Chris

On 2013-10-16, at 10:57 AM, Diane Gibeault <diane.gibeault at rogers.com> wrote:

> Hi Carmela,
> 
> I will share my experience with and without interpreters.
>  
> First - Without interpreters as this is a more common situation
>  
> I have facilitated an international OS conference organized by an NGO who did not have a budget for interpretation. This in fact is more representative of my experience with OS where there is a mix of languages.
>  
> - Participants posted a topic in the language in which they planned to start the discussion.
> - I encouraged all participants to add in smaller print, circled at a bottom corner of their sheet, their topic in another language, one they were familiar with or they could ask another participant to translate it for them.  I showed them an example as I explained this so it would be visual and easier to understand. The intent was to allow more people to understand the topic and join the discussion.
> - Participants were invited to use the buddy system: participate to a given group along with someone who is familiar with the language of the posted topic.
> - A system of volunteers can be easily created. Participants can volunteer to be language buddies as needed by wearing an additional badge which indicates the languages they can offer help with.
> - Independently of these systems, what we know is that the resources are in the group – someone can do the interpretation - and if not, if people care enough, the participant or the group, they will find external resources.  I was in a group once where  someone interpreted from Spanish to English and I interpreted from English to French and it worked wonderfully.
> - In an OS where there are many languages, often people select topics they want to join among those posted in a language they understand. It’s a personal choice. OS is all about choices one makes. The law of the two feet allows everyone to find the place the want in the given context.
>  
>  
> Now - With interpreters
>  
> I did an Open Space in Brasil with about 200 participants where interpreters simultaneously transmitted what was being said in the large circle, in 4 different languages. 
> - I gave interpreters in advance, an example of the OS opening points so they could get familiarized with the OS terms and concepts. I also spoke to them about the spirit of OS so that might influence their choice of words to better reflect the intent.
>  
> - For the discussion groups, a team of about of about 8 interpreters was available in the lobby; anyone could ask them to join a group as needed. 
> - In the groups, they would do consecutive interpretation, i.e. sitting beside the person(s) wanting interpretation so they could speak in a lower voice directly to them. 
> - When those participants spoke, their comment would be interpreted in the language of the rest of the group (in this case, often English or Spanish). 
> - The rest of the group would generally wait for the interpretation to be completed before another person spoke, especially if the statement being interpreted was lengthy.
> - Often interpreters were not busy, as participants were doing the interpretation themselves.
>  
>  
> In either approaches, with or without interpretation, the experience of helping one another creates a very special bond among participants. 
> That’s what we say in the opening: OS is about collaboration and being creative. 
>  
> Hope this is helpful
> Diane Gibeault
>  
> 
> From: Carmela Ariza <carmela_ariza at yahoo.com>
> To: "oslist at lists.openspacetech.org" <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> 
> Sent: Monday, October 14, 2013 7:45:49 PM
> Subject: [OSList] How to deal with having many languages in open space?
> 
> Dear OS practitioners,
> 
> Good day!
> 
> How do you address the need for interpreters/translators when doing open space, particularly Open Space sessions....wherein everyone is in different topic groups...?
> 
> How many interpreters would be needed for a 200 pax out of 1000 pax (for example) - who do not really speak English well (if at all they do speak any English)?
> 
> How do you deal with this situation?
> 
> For the OS principles, law - we will definitely be having posters on the wall - in different languages....
> 
> Looking forward to your helpful experiences and suggestions!
> 
> Best,
> 
> Carms
> 
> 
>  
> If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not having. -- Henry Miller
> 
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