Thanks for all the advice sent to me so far, very much appreciated.
Please keep it coming! I'll send an anonymised summary of it all to the
list next week.
In the interim, please, friends, allow me to address a
misinterpretation! I'm overcome with worry about an impression I've
given that I was underestimating these 'government types' -- quite the
opposite! I mean, I'm not flapping around in blithering hysteria, but
I'm certainly not downplaying their insights either. I'd say I'm mildly
daunted, and the advice I was seeking was how I might rise to the
challenge, not how I, the celestial genius, might manage to get such a
complicated and clever idea across to such simple-minded bureaucratic
pen pushers. Believe me, I have only the most modest delusions of adequacy.
Another thing to clarify: I'm happy with the idea that 'government
types' -- and perhaps even some of the people I'll be meeting -- will be
reading these emails. By all means I welcome their responses too!
Thanks again for all advice received so far, and please do send any
further thoughts.
All the best, and enjoy the spring sunshine *ahem* over the weekend.
Dave
--
Dr. Dave Sayers
Honorary Research Fellow
College of Arts & Humanities
and Language Research Centre
Swansea University
[log in to unmask]
http://swansea.academia.edu/DaveSayers
On 23/02/2012 16:53, Dave Sayers wrote:
> Hello one and all,
>
> I hope you're all doing well -- indeed, I hope you're doing splendidly.
> Now, I have a question drawing on your collective expertise.
>
> To my delight and surprise, I've been invited to present some of my
> recent research to a group of language policy officials and researchers
> in the Welsh Government (some of whom may be on this list I suppose,
> which is fine).
>
> I don't mind admitting this will be my first foray into speaking in the
> halls of power, despite masses of experience on the academic conference
> circuit (at the expense of publications -- don't do that kids!). Does
> anyone have any advice for these sorts of encounters? I've been asked to
> focus on the policy implications, which is understandable, but I'm aware
> I might be completely blind-sided by their approach, due to
> inexperience. Also, my talk is broadly critical of the policies in
> question (in an academic sort of way), so any heads up about that
> potential friction would be handy.
>
> If you're interested in details, it's based on an existing presentation,
> 'Ideological Directions in Welsh Language Policy', which is currently at
> the top of my academia.edu talks page:
> http://swansea.academia.edu/DaveSayers/Talks. It's also #3 on that list
> -- two different presentations of the same research (I do get around).
>
> If you email me separately from the list, then please let me know
> whether I can include an anonymised version of your advice in a
> collation of similar private emails, which I'll send to the list in due
> course.
>
> Thanks muchly,
> Dave
>
> --
> Dr. Dave Sayers
> Honorary Research Fellow
> College of Arts & Humanities
> and Language Research Centre
> Swansea University
> [log in to unmask]
> http://swansea.academia.edu/DaveSayers
>
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