[governance] Communication Challenges [Brainstorming]

[Nick Ashton-Hart]

FWIW, in At-Large we faced significant language issues, with many
participants with limited English and native Spanish or French
respectively. We tried automatic translation of emails, but it was a pretty
imperfect situation.

Avri is completely correct, if you really want multiple language
communities to have equal opportunity to participate, it takes extra time
and energy (IMHO it is not only worth it but actually a necessity) for
everyone. Many of you here will know how strongly I feel that the dialogue
is richer with everyone in it, even if the linguistic challenges require
patience and extra work to try to overcome.

-- 
Regards,

Nick Ashton-Hart
Geneva Representative
Computer & Communications Industry Assocation (CCIA)
Tel: +41 (22) 534 99 45
Fax: : +41 (22) 594-85-44
Mobile: +41 79 595 5468
USA DID: +1 (202) 640-5430

*Need to meet with me? Schedule the time that suits us both here:
http://meetme.so/nashton*

Sent from my one of my handheld thingies, please excuse linguistic mangling.

On 15 Feb 2013, at 15:10, Avri Doria <avri at acm.org> wrote:

Hi,

Interesting proposal.

Is Spanish the only language we have this issue with?
Or would this be a pilot that could/would be expanded to other languages if
it worked well?

One thing, I think that extra time would need to be built into the
schedules to handle this.

avri

On 15 Feb 2013, at 05:17, Norbert Bollow wrote:

Sala <salanieta.tamanikaiwaimaro at gmail.com> wrote:


How can we turn this challenge of communication into an opportunity?

Any thoughts?


Maybe this experience of communication problems can serve as a

motivation to create a "Spanish Language Caucus" for


a) discussion in Spanish of global information society issues;


b) discussion of information society issues concerning specifically

 users of the Spanish language;


c) selecting Ambassadors, trusted by the "Spanish Language Caucus"

 community, who able to communicate in English as well as in Spanish,

 and who would be willing to engage in global fora on behalf of

 Spanish speakers who don't have sufficient English language skills

 to be able to effectively engage directly


?


Of course the Ambassadors would report back to the "Spanish Language

Caucus", etc.


If this works well, maybe it'll set a good example that could be

followed by other language groups.


Greetings,

Norbert
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