SAWA has deepened our awareness of how language influences our thoughts and shapes the concepts we work with. As a German-Arabic language workgroup, we not only relied on English as the primary medium of communication but also used it to reflect on international museum ideas that originated in an Anglo-American context.
Early on in SAWA sessions, we began collecting museological vocabulary and frequently used key phrases to examine how they were applied in multiple localities. We called this our SAWA Glossary. Many terms carry distinct meanings depending on their cultural and linguistic contexts. What are the shared and divergent meanings of these words?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when SAWA meetings shifted entirely online, we used this as an opportunity to revisit the glossary as a platform for continued discussions and knowledge-sharing.
In 2020, 20 former SAWA participants began developing a trilingual glossary containing museological terms explained in Arabic, English and German. Working in small, mixed groups of two to four participants from the MENA region and Germany, each approached a term from a unique perspective. This process encouraged reflection on personal viewpoints and helped identify translational challenges. The SAWA facilitators guided them through regular online sessions.
As an ongoing initiative within the SAWA program, the glossary continues to evolve. Each year, new participants contribute fresh perspectives, expanding the collection of terms and interpretations.
We deliberately chose an open and flexible format, allowing participants to explore and present their exchanges in a manner that suited them best. We remain fully aware of the challenges that arise when publishing workshop-based experimental content.
The glossary outcome represents the conversations about the significance and meaning of words and phrases commonly used in the museum field. The ongoing, and rewarding, challenge lies in reaching a joint definition when using them.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are fully the intellectual property of the authors and their opinions and do not necessarily reflect any official views of the SAWA Museum Studies Program nor of any of the partner institutions.
