A Space Where Each of Us Can Think and Be Heard
I recently attended a language liberation webinar led by Xabi Odriozola, the International Commonality Reference Person for Languages and Interpreting. Over three hundred people from around the world participated. Xabi talked about how language oppression holds together the power structure that underlies all other oppressions. Everyone speaking the same language is not the future. Now, more than ever, is the time to pay attention to language domination.
Xabi emphasized the importance of connection and the need for every voice to be heard. By slowing down and recognizing the multiplicity of cultures and languages, we can create a space where each of us can be seen and heard, where we can think clearly and communicate our thoughts.
I was part of an amazing team that organized interpreting. There were two kinds of interpreting. One was continuous simultaneous interpreting into several languages on different audio channels for those who did not speak English. The other was up-front interpreting into eighteen languages, which allowed the whole webinar to hear for a few minutes each of the native languages spoken by the participants. This was a powerful contradiction to feelings of invisibility and isolation and to rushing and powering through.
Language liberation has deep significance for me as an immigrant, a former refugee, and a non-native English speaker living in the United States. I hope we keep moving it forward to make sure that every person has a space to think in and a voice that is heard.
Thank you to everybody who participated and made this webinar happen.
New York, New York, USA
Reprinted from the e-mail discussion list for RC Community members
(Present Time 201, October 2020)