Dear John, you wrote:
> I would very much like to hear from anyone on the list who has also
experienced this problem, specifically in terms of ways to make these
publications accessible to a wider community(e.g. as bi-lingual
publications). I realise that the problem is not peculiar to Taiwan,
and that relevant experiences may be available from other Asian
countries, non-English-speaking Europe(and North America?!), and
South America to name some more obvious centres of design.
Strategies to overcome this communication barrier are urgently needed.
>
> I am very conscious of the need for effective communication within
a discipline, more so as our affairs become ever more globalised. I
would welcome off-list communications, as well as any on-list
discussion, particularly from those faced by the difficulty of
bringing their work to the attention of a wider audience.
>
In PhD Design List archives, you'll find written the following in my
Mon, 14 Oct 2002 post:
< (...) Another advantage of having an editor for all our inputs is
that all of us non-English speaking individuals and groups would also
be encouraged to contribute, if we know that there will be a relay
unit which will, in a way or another, cleary convey our contribution
to the rest of the design research community. Otherwise, as the
situation is now, the design research community is denying itself
some invaluable input from all those who throughout the
world are not fluent enough in the English language. (...)>
I am sure, as another case to emphasize even more your point, my
fellows at the Japan Institute of Design would be ready and willing
to also contribute, if there was a kind of liaison-translation
service available for them.
I, as a member in the above Institute, have been trying hard to get
them interested in the PhD Design list. Unfortunately this has been
in vain so far, part of this failure being caused by the language
barrier. But also, and much so, the failure is due to a lack of
cultural liaison expertise in this "global village" of ours". Perhaps
then, our efforts aught to be directed also towards starting and
building up such kind of expertise. And right away, I hereby offer to
be part of the team...!
Kind regards.
François-X. N.I. NSENGA
Montréal
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