Tell the World: Storytelling Across Language Barriers

by Margaret Read MacDonald

Overview

Working with or without a native speaker, a storyteller can touch the minds and hearts of all listeners—even those with little or no English language skills. Here a group of expert storytellers share a variety of tips and techniques that help bridge the language gap; along with sample stories that librarians, teachers, and professional storytellers can easily incorporate into their repertoires. Four basic techniques for bilingual telling are explored: summarizing, line-by-line translation, tandem telling, and inserted phrases. In addition, contributors discuss such topics as the translator's role, using story in language instruction, presenting tellers of other languages, traveling and giving workshops abroad, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591583141
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/30/2007
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.41(d)

About the Author

Margaret Read MacDonald is an award-winning and internationally renowned author, storyteller, folklorist, and children's librarian. She has written or edited more than 50 books, and she teaches storytelling at University of Washington Information School and Lesley University. MacDonald has performed bilingual, tandem telling in the States and throughout the world with many listeners who speak little or no English.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Telling Through Translation

Chapter 2: Line-by-Line Translation

Chapter 3: Tandem Telling

Chapter 4: More than Words: Storytelling Without Translation

Chapter 5: One Teller, One Story, Two Languages

Chapter 6: On the Translator's Role

Chapter 7: Performing in a Second Language

Chapter 8: Story in Language Instruction

Chapter 9: Presenting Tellers of Other Languages

Chapter 10: Presenting Workshops Abroad

Chapter 11: Translation in a Signed Language

Chapter 12: Cultural Considerations

Chapter 13: A Language of No Words

Chapter 14: Tellers Travel

Chapter 15: On the Translator's Art

Chapter 16: Bibliographies

Index

About the Editor and Contributors

Editorial Reviews

Tell the World is a wonderful resource for storytellers, educators, and librarians. It provides a framework from which even individuals who have never been bitten by the storytelling bug can benefit as she highlights a variety of basic storytelling techniques, including line-by-line, tandem telling, summarizing, and interesting phrases….MacDonald has done a good job of bringing together a variety of voices frmo throughout the world who share her passion for storytelling.” —MultiCultural Review

“This is an indispensible guide for those wanting to share stories with audiences who speak another language. The author's advice, along with that of other experienced tellers, covers myriad facets of this special and relevant method of connecting with members of our greater yet smaller world community….The book includes priceless advice about glitches that others have faced and surmounted. Preparation time with a translator is ideal. Suggestions for programs for hearing-impaired audience members and those who know no translatable languages are included. A clear, complete, practical, and readable treasure trove from a master teacher.” —School Library Jourbanal

From the Publisher

This is an indispensable guide for those wanting to share stories with audiences who speak another language. The author's advice, along with that of other experienced tellers, covers myriad facets of this special and relevant method of connecting with members of our greater yet smaller world community. MacDonald says, "...the human heart finds ways to connect across language barriers." Interest in and respect for other cultures, histories, languages, and mores are prerequisites for storytelling in general, and, in this specialty, are absolutely essential. She also presents the pluses and minuses of various ways of translating (line by line; in tandem; summarizing; bilingual). Equally important to words are the rhythms, gestures, intonations, and facial expressions that are vital to the audience watching and listening to the teller. The book includes priceless advice about glitches that others have faced and surmounted. Preparation time with a translator is ideal. Suggestions for programs for hearing-impaired audience members and those who know no translatable languages are included. A clear, complete, practical, and readable treasure trove from a master teacher.-Judy Sokoll, Florida Storytelling Association, Naples

School Library Journal