“We Are All in This Together”
Everyone needs to be part of making a better world—it won’t happen without everyone’s participation. And language liberation is an essential part of the platform from which we need to work. If I don’t understand you and you don’t understand me, we aren’t going to get very far.
Also, we are at our best when we are thinking and communicating in our own language, and everyone’s voice needs to be fully heard.
Language oppression is a subtle and usually subconscious way of acting out patterns of superiority and inferiority. Working on language liberation is one way to notice how these patterns play out [are acted out] in our relationships.
We need not know more than one language to participate in language liberation. Language liberation is about giving all of us a voice and the means to understand, no matter which or how many languages we know or do not know. It is about all of us being visible and taking our rightful places.
We do need to get rid of any guilt or embarrassment about speaking “only” one language. That language may get little attention, or it may be a dominant language like English. In either case, guilt and embarrassment only slow us down.
Our Communities have made great strides in regard to language liberation. We have done tremendous work—and we still have a long way to go.
We need to make interpreting a part of everything we do. We cannot assume everyone is being equally included when English is the only language being spoken. And since every language is unique, including as many languages as possible in our activities enriches our experience and broadens our thinking.
On application forms for workshops and conferences, we can ask specific questions about language inheritance and skills. For example, we can ask what language support (such as interpreting) people need to fully participate.
Asking for this information, from the start, invites each applicant to think about language liberation. It shows a clear intent to include everyone. It is a sign that we know that using English only is not enough to make our project a success. It says, “We want you with us, and we need you at your fullest, at your best.” It also makes the work of coordinating the interpreting an easier, more pleasant, and more interesting job.
We are important regardless of what language(s) we speak. Discharging on the statement “We are all in this together!” is a good place to start—or continue!
Kantza, Greece
(Present Time 192, July 2018)