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A few comments on bilingual signage:
1. For a conference that I organized entitled "Expanding Informal Science for Latinos," we had several authors write brief reviews of important issues, such as working with Hispanic media, language/culture issues, etc., so you may find the papers useful when you are planning exhibits or programs with an emphasis on engaging Latino students and families. You can access these reviews with the link that was previously provided by Steve Yalowitz:
https://custom.cvent.com/31CAE59B86B34D008A931B151B002A5C/files/d0b4f0e22d204191a434374ffc2e289b.pdf
2. For an earlier project that involved developing outreach exhibits for Latinos that were used in community settings, festivals and schools, we had bilingual English/Spanish labels. We found this really increased the involvement of Spanish-dependent parents who did not need to rely on their children as translators. We often had high school or undergraduate bilingual Latino students to work with families as explainers. This was also really encouraged participation -- the students were often familiar faces from their community. In short, bilingual signage is good and having explainers from the community in combination with bilingual labels is even better.
3. We found that there were, at times, regional differences in health terminology used by participants from different countries/cultures, so translators and label writers have to be aware of that.
4. In a Spanish language news services project, we found that readers could tell the difference between stories translated from English to Spanish and stories written originally in Spanish.
5. We found it most effective to use native Spanish speakers who were fluent in English to translate/adapt English to Spanish. They would often rephrase so that the same content was conveyed, but presented in a more fluent fashion.
Bob Russell
National Center for Interactive Learning/Space Science Institute
Principal, Informal Learning Solutions
From: Erich Rose <[log in to unmask]>
To: ISEN-ASTC-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tue, Dec 6, 2011 6:55 am
Subject: Re: Bilingual Signage in Museums
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Monica & all,
This is where we find ourselves wandering into the political realm. Yet another
BIG discussion with no clear cut right or wrong.
Let me say first I have very mixed feelings about this. I am a first generation
American. Parents of German descent who for reasons that were much more
important back in the 50s & 60s decided not to teach us German. They felt a
strong need to assimilate. My father learned English on his own, working with
the farmer who sponsored him and reading the labels on cans of food in the
grocery where he earned extra money. By the time I was growing up he could
whoop all of us at Scrabble (But he still had a THICK Prussian accent until he
died). To this day I regret not speaking a second language. My daughter is in
her third year of Mandarin. We tell her if she learns Spanish too she will be
able to travel the globe with no problems.
I would love to hear more from our European members about how languages are
handled in museums in countries like Germany or France. I know my various
cousins, nieces and nephews in Germany and England all speak at least two if not
three languages. Sometimes I think the great English First argument is as much
a reaction to the fact that we are so far behind in language education in this
country that we have to cover up the guilt with good old American bone-headed
stubbornness. Yet I do tend to believe that to live here in America it is in a
person's best interest to learn English. Sorry, but that only makes sense. BUT
that doesn't mean I think that our museum's should have an English only policy.
Every day I learn a new word in another language I feel so much more empowered.
If doing bilingual signage can promote that then let's do it.
Now from the perspective of an exhibit designer I have greater opinions on the
issues related to making an exhibit work well. Issues with "graphic clutter",
clear instruction and meaningful context often are much harder when we have to
add the second language. For as much as I fear the image of museums full of
folks looking at their smart phones, I do think the technology will help us
greatly with this issue of languages. Especially when we don't have to pick just
one second language but can offer a number. But that also brings up another
common issue with exhibits: resources.
Erich Rose
Erich Rose Design
807 The Living End
Austin, TX 78746
512-626-9930; [log in to unmask]
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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
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