Topic – What is this meetup about?
In this meeting we would like to explore the impact of speaking a foreign language on our communication and reflect upon our experiences. More and more we meet people in our daily context who don’t speak the same mother tongue. There is a growing diversity in the people we meet such as neighbors, colleagues and friends. And thanks to online meeting platforms, we can easily meet people across borders. That is what we do in this TCI-community of planetary citizens. Here in this community, we experience as well what it feels like to communicate in a language, English, that is not our mother tongue.
We would like to explore the impact of speaking a foreign language on our communication and experiences together, in the here-and-now by reflecting upon our experiences on questions like these:
What happens to me when I cannot speak my mother tongue? Now and here, perhaps in my daily life, … ?
What about the communication in my daily life, and here and now? To what extent do we understand each other, in my perception? Can I really understand the other person, and myself? Or should I accept that I cannot fully understand neither the other nor myself.
And what about listening, what kind of listening do we need in foreign language speaking groups, like here and now? Does the concept of culture help us in our listening and understanding, or does it reduce the other to object?
Structure – What would we like to do together?
Besides the possibility to share our experiences with each other, we would like to do some exercises/experiments with the group to be more aware of the impact of language and untranslatability and explore other forms of interaction online.
We aim to do this in both small groups (2 to 3 participants) and slightly larger groups (6 participants) We therefore expect to have space for 18 participants at most but are open to hear from anyone interested in this meetup!
Please let us know if you want to participate!
You can let us know you want to participate by leaving a comment here below. We will send you the link to the meeting Monday 13th of March latest.
Inspiration
Among other authors we are inspired by Kübra Gümüsay’s book: Language and Being, (also available in German ‘Sprache und Sein’ and in Dutch ‘Spreken en zijn’). Take a look at her book if you are interested in reading more on this topic.
Organizers: Ineke Werkman, Phien Kuipers and Lien Gijbels.
Hi Frederik, Carolien and Natasja,
How good that you are offering this event, it’s a topic that is very close to my heart. Can I sign up already? In any case, I will keep the date free and look forward to it!
warm regards
Ineke
Dear Ineke,
So nice to hear that you are interested in this meet-up! The date has just been planned and the content info is updated here. So feel free to take a look at the updated content and let us know here if you are still interested and able to make it on the scheduled date. Then we will send you the link to this meeting the week before.
Warm regards, Ingeborg
I like to participate in the discussion at the base camp. The topc is very interesting for me and my work. Can I sign up now?
With warm regards
Agnes Christ-Fiala, Germany, Bremen
Dear Agnes,
So nice to hear that you are interested in this meet-up! The date has just been planned and the content info is updated here. So feel free to take a look at the updated content and let us know here if you are still interested and able to make it on the scheduled date. Then we will send you the link to this meeting the week before.
Warm regards, Ingeborg
What a great idea and spot-on theme for this communicty with members from different countries and languages! I would like to join.
I am excited about this event – also as the beginning of a longer dialogue – and look forward to being a part of the “meet-up”.
Hello Mical.
That’s so nice to hear!
I’m looking forward to meet you there.
Hi Ineke, Phien and Lien
this topic is a part of my life for centuries , how nice you pick it up. I would like to join.
Best regards Beate
Hello Beate,
That’s so nice to hear. Looking foreward to meet you there!
I‘ll participate in the meeting, March 18. Please send me the link.
Matthias
Dear Matthias, so nice! Looking forward to seeing you there. We will send you the link
I want to sign up for this topic, but I cannot be there for 3 hours. So I will leave at 16.00, okay?
Hi there, lovely people of this Circle about Language & Culture,
I would like to join the meeting on March 18th, so count me in!
Great!!!
Hello everybody,
I am very late but I would like to participate and hope we will meet tomorrow.
Warm regards
Sylvaine
I didn’t get a link for the meeting yet. sorry