Kaliay -- seems to me you really have two questions here, and I am not sure which one your really want an answer to (or both?). Question 1 -- OS in a non-English environment? Question 2 -- OS in an environment where multiple languages are spoken?
The simple answer to # 1 is No Problem. Given the fact that OS has been used some 100,000+ times in 124 countries, I think the verdict is probably in: It works in any language. And specifically in terms of Japan, I can tell you on the basis of personal experience -- works there too. In fact if you go there and would like to have and OS in Japanese, contact my good friends at Human Values (Tokyo), and particularly Emi Hota [email protected] By the way, they have also just published the Japanese version of "Open Space Technology: A User's Guide." The answer to Question # 2 is also, No Problem -- but a detailed answer will take a little time. First thing is that OS is so intuitive that even when most of the people don't understand a word of the "opening" they will "get it." I had a group in Latin America where Spanish was just about it. I don't speak Spanish but with just a little bit of simultaneous translation, everything worked just like usual. Things get a little more complicated when you come to the various issue group in multiple languages. But that seems to work too, very much in the spirit of a good international bar. If you want to talk to somebody and don't share a common language, everybody else at the bar will pitch in. Language buddies can also be helpful. And I am sure that our international cast of characters will have lots of helpful suggestions. And Last -- but not least --- WELCOME to the LIST!!! Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org Personal website www.ho-image.com OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kaliya Hamlin Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 7:19 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Mutli-LIngual and non-primary Language Open space Hi Open Space LIst, I finally have joined. At Nexus for change many open space practitioners were talking about how wonderfully supportive this list was of their practice and a real community. Part of the reason I joined is that I have a question that was not answerable easily by searching the web. I would like to know about expereinces and learning about open space where multiple Languages are used and perhaps more importantly where many of the participants don't have the primary language the Open Space is being run in don't have it as their first language. I have brought Open Space into the stodgy standards world of the International Telecommunications Union's Focus Group on Identity Management. Although we have used it at one of the meetings there are those who remain unconvinced of its potential and who are insisting that it "doesn't work" for non-english as a first language speakers. They are apparently suggesting that when we have our meeting in Japan that the Open Space be run in Japaness to prove to me that it doesn't work for these people. (Like sitting in a room for 8 hours a day reviewing english written Microsoft Word documents projected on the front wall 'works' to deal successfully with the complex world of telecommunications standards and regulations world wide.) What I would like to know from people is how do you create a supportive space for groups where many of the participants don't have english as a primary language? What are the guildelines/suggestions to put forward to both the first language speakers? What are the guidlelines/suggesitons put forward to the as a second (or third..) language participatnts. Any other advise you have about this would be welcome. Regards, =Kaliay * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== [email protected] ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of [email protected]: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
