IGF 2025 Lightning Talk #90 Tower of Babel Chaos

    DiploFoundation
    Virginia (Ginger) Paque, DiploFoundation, Civil Society, WEOG Slavica Karajicic, DiploFoundation, Civil Society, Eastern Europe
    Speakers
    Virginia (Ginger) Paque, DiploFoundation, Civil Society, WEOG Slavica Karajicic, DiploFoundation, Civil Society, Eastern Europe Ashnah Kalemera, CIPESA, Civil Society, Africa Kenneth Harry Msiska, Forus, Civil Society, Africa Karolina Iwańska, ENCL, Civil Society, WEOG Abed Kataya, SMEX, Civil Society, Africa Victor Kapiyo, KICTANet, Civil Society, Africa Bimsara Malshan, Fusion, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Marie L'Hostis, Civil Society, Global Mwendwa Kivuva, KICTANet, Civil Society, Africa Patricia Ainembabazi, CIPESA, Civil Society, Africa María Galvis, Karisma, Civil Society, GRULAC
    Onsite Moderator
    Slavica Karajicic, DiploFoundation, Civil Society, Eastern Europe
    Rapporteur
    Slavica Karajicic, DiploFoundation, Civil Society, Eastern Europe
    SDGs
    4. Quality Education
    10. Reduced Inequalities


    Targets: The principal obstacle to multistakeholder inclusion in global processes is communication, and the most significant barrier to communication is language. As a sample microcosm of global participation, the speakers (whose organisers form part of the Civil Alliances for Digital Empowerment [CADE] consortium) will highlight the need for support for multilingual, gender, and geographical diversity using the CADE consortium, whose dozens of members include only one native English speaker, as a simulation where participants in a session represent many different first languages and more second languages.
    Format
    This lightning session will give a dynamic demonstration of individuals speaking different native languages, trying to communicate, in the spontaneous model of a flash mob. Audience participants will be invited to join the session, and to carry the simulation into the viewing area to simulate a Tower of Babel experience.
    Duration (minutes)
    30
    Description
    As a sample microcosm of global participation, the speakers (whose organisers form part of the Civil Alliances for Digital Empowerment [CADE] consortium) will highlight the need for support for multilingual, gender, and geographical diversity using the CADE consortium, whose dozens of members include only one native English speaker, as a simulation where participants in a session represent many different first languages and more second languages. The principal obstacle to multistakeholder inclusion in global processes is communication, and the most significant barrier to communication is language. This lightning session will give a dynamic demonstration of individuals speaking different native languages, trying to communicate, in the spontaneous model of a flash mob. The audience will be invited to join the session, and to carry the simulation into the viewing area to simulate a Tower of Babel experience. The simulation will be followed by open brainstorming in search of real-life solutions rather than theoretical possibilities to overcome language challenges.

    Following written (handouts) and moderator instructions, this lightning session will give a dynamic demonstration of individuals speaking different native languages, trying to communicate, in the spontaneous model of a flash mob. The audience will be invited to join the session, and to carry the simulation into the viewing area to simulate a Tower of Babel experience. Prepared placards will assist in self-organisation. A follow-up discussion will involve all participants to respond to shared questions such as: How did participants adapt to the chaotic situation? Did language groups find each other and form silos? What was realistic about the simulation? Did we find a solution? What are the needed accommodations to ensure effective communications? As a lightning session, there will not be online participation.