Thesis Presentation: Multilinguals

“multilingual identity�

Sarah Alfarhan Thesis I. Prof. Jean Brennan Fall 2012

Hi, My name is Sarah Alfarhan ...

*English, French, Arabic

I am from Kuwait. And I speak Arabic and English ...

In 2006 I moved to the US to study illustration ...

As an illustrator I start out projects with brainstorming and word listing, trying to find connections & synergies for concepts.

One summer while working on an assignment, I started by word listing as usual ...

Then I switched to word listing in Arabic ...

This is the exact page where that duality in brainstorming happend.

And it resonated with me ...

Because of the drastically different imagery that surfaced when I was brainstorming in Arabic.

There were similarities in English and Arabic, but some of the images were very different.

From then on, whenever I have been faced with (a) little sneaky creative block I switch the language I am using!

Katie.Printmaker

Scott.Woodworker

Margaux.Illustrator

Karla.Designer

I thought about my creative friends whatever their specialty is ...

Walk?

Travel?

Socialize?

Try something new?

And how they deal with creative blocks.

Now, if a creative multilingual ...

is faced with a creative block ...

english

farsi arabic

spanish

french hebrew thai russian A number of possible solutions will surface when approaching a problem in several languages ...

The languages spoken can provide different views because each language presents its own culture ...

Diversity in perspectives and perceptions will be available ...

And one can reference and reflect in multiple languages while examining a problem ...

As a result what’s produced is diverse, rich and universal.

Language is a tool that serves creative thinkers.

HYPOTHESIS at a glance

A multilingual approach provides the benefit of seeing things from different angles, thereby producing rich solutions.

Furthermore, it is essential for creative individuals, as cultural producers, to be attuned to the many perspectives of a diverse society.

Why language?

So, why language specifically?

I believe in today’s world ...

Living in a very multicultural and multilingual society, it would be beneficial for individuals (especially creative problem solvers) who are attuned to this diversity.

Main Sources “Language gives humans their humanity.” “ ... to speak their language is to live their culture.”

“When we learn to convey meaning in another language, our first step ... is not grammar but culture.”

From all the sources that I have been using in my research, Daniel Everett’s books have been the most valuable. Daniel Everett is a linguist, his books: Don’t Sleep There Are Snakes // Language: the Cultural Tool address the connection between language, culture, and perception. He worked as a missionary with an Amazonian Tribe in Brazil to learn their language but instead of converting them, they converted him and he became an Atheist!

He writes of language affecting perception and the importance of maintaining several languages.

Case Study A Book by its Cover Ramzy Masri

• Storytelling as a vehicle for cultural understanding.

• Books addressing race read to children at different schools.

A case study that I have looked at is Ramzy Masri’s project: A book by its Cover.

His goal was to help prevent the formation of stereotypes.

He designed 3 pictureboks using geometric shapes and vibrant colors.

He used storytelling as a vehicle for addressing racism and creating cultural understanding.

• Each child creates their own book about an experience with discrimination, that is later swapped with another school.

• Each child will design an autobiography and gift, for their “book-pal” revealing their race.

Masri’s project is divided into two parts, the first is visiting schools and reading his picturebooks to children, the second is giving students blank journals asking them to tell about a situation when they were discriminated.

Then they exchange these books with a student from another school.

This aspect of exploring identity by unintimidating/ un-judgmental exposure and then by giving the means for users to explore this and reflect on their own is something I plan to do next semester.

Current Explorations • Survey taken by multilinguals

• Workbook for bilingual high school students to explore identity and universality through the usage of English, native language, and drawing

My current explorations include a survey taken by multilinguals asking them about their usage speaking a # of languages.

I have also collaborated with NYU fellowship teachers to design a workbook for bilingual students to allow the students to explore and utilize the different languages they speak.

Proposed Series of Explorations • A tool allowing identity exploration for creative individuals: Brainstorming games

• A traveling sketchbook of responses to different themes exchanged between multilinguals • Infographics

My series of explorations for next semester include games for designers, a traveling sketchbook, infographics ...

Instead of coming up with one design solution, I will produce a series of solutions because there’s no one way of brainstorming and overcoming creative blocks.

Project Goals • Understanding the multilingual mind

• Creating a desire to learn a new language: Promoting Multilinguality Diminishing cultural miscommunication • Using language as the driving vehicle • Refining creative voice

• Developing identity: Through multilingual reflection

In the visual solutions for my thesis I hope that spectators will walk away with an understanding of the multilingual mind and have the desire to learn a new language.

I want designers to use language in refining their creative voice and developing their identity as creators.

HYPOTHESIS Language is a tool that can serve creative individuals in their early stages of brainstorming and concept development.

A multilingual approach provides the benefit of seeing things from different angles, thereby producing rich solutions.

Furthermore, it is essential for creative individuals, as cultural producers, to be attuned to the many perspectives of a diverse society.

I believe language may be instrumental in triggering the creative process, as well as arriving at stronger concepts relevant to a multicultural world.

In conclusion, I will leave you with my Hypothesis.

Any Questions, des questions, ay as’Ela?