Posts Tagged ‘language’

communicating across the cultural divide

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Over the last two weeks I was able to observe cross-cultural communication without moving more than few km from my place.

And I will never cease to be surprised at one of the few absolutes that still linger inside the mind of even the most open-minded people.

Language.

When we communicate, we do not just listen- our brain tries to anticipate, by using the patterns that we know.

With a foreign interlocutor, the risk is that our brain “puts the coach in front of the horses”- and infers a conclusion where none if forthcoming.

Our natural instinct to predict becomes a damage to our effective communication.

Multilingual online publishing – part 2

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Do you have a multilingual audience?

Then, maybe you could join my “Powered by GoogleTranslate” and “GoogleTranslateReady” experiment.

From August 16th, but enrolling now…

Building a cross-media presence

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Over the last few years you heard often the word “format”, when referring to TV, movies (usually along with the word “franchise”).

This article will try to use two examples that I created, to show different approaches to a cross-media format for the XXI century- or: building a cross-media presence.

One that is not focused on converting the public into a passive viewer.

After the May 2009 experiment, the daily delivery of the draft script of a series called GMN2009 (”Genome, Mind Mapping, Neural Networks”), a new step.

As part of my experiments in communication, I created a format 10-4-20: The Game Language (WGA Registered 1366431).

Both formats are built to be cross-media, and as a living experiment, encompassing both the usual format purpose (live game), and also potential online, gaming, and other uses.

The concept? To give a showcase on how a cross-media for the XXI century can be created not only to convert each TV viewer into a dumb idiot, but also to spur innovation and creativity.

The main section of this article is the Examples: 10-4-20- a gaming format – details.
But I suggest that you read also at least the introduction What is a format? What is a franchise? And a YouTube promo? if you do not have experience with cultural change and format creation.

If you are just interested in applying the concepts, read the introduction and Next steps: sharing the process, where I explain how I am currently thinking to apply the guidelines set in my articles Democratic technology access and A virtual news agency

Democratic technology access

Monday, June 29th, 2009

I just wanted to share with all those that I am supporting (or preparing to support) pro-bono another step in my plan that could, maybe, become useful in the future to our common activities

my purpose? I found wasteful and boring to repeat what I already did; it is much more interesting and useful to create something new, or use a framework to build new ideas and services

but that is, in the end, the OpenSource spirit :)

more democratic than most of our other form of cooperation ;)

learning a language… how far?

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

so, you decided to learn one, two, ten languages.

how far should your formal learning be expanded (i.e. grammar and book-related learning)

some practical example…

Learning a language? Why just one?

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

Learning a language? Set your purpose first.

It will make the learning itself an enjoyable travel through a new world- and you will be able to use it in no time