What is interpretive communication?

Interpreters

ABCDEFGHIJKL MNOPQRSTUVW XYZ

We use these to make arrangements for you to:

Laugh, cry, imagine, remember, hope, dream and belong.

We do translate

From the technical languages of the experts to the languages of every-day people. Conceptual translation..

The definition

Interpretation is a communication process designed to REVEAL meanings and relationships of our cultural and natural heritage, to the public, through first hand involvement and experiences with objects, landscapes, artifacts or sites.

Tilden and beyond

Freeman Tilden first set forth the principles of interpretation in his book Interpreting Our Heritage.

Tildens Principles
1.

Any interpretation that does not somehow relate what is being displayed or described to something within the personality or experience of the visitor will be sterile.
Information, as such, is not Interpretation. Interpretation is revelation based upon information. But they are entirely different things. However, all interpretation includes information.

2.

3. Interpretation is an art, which combines many arts. Any art is in some degree teachable. 4. The chief aim of Interpretation is provocation, not instruction. 5. Interpretation should aim to present a whole (theme) rather than a part, and must address itself to the whole person rather than any phase.

6. Interpretation addressed to children (up to the age of 12) should not be a dilution of the presentation to adults, but should follow a fundamentally different approach. To be at its best it will require a separate program.

Tildens TIPS
We developed a shorthand of these principles and call them Tildens TIPS.
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Provoke Relate Reveal Address the whole Message Unity

An Example

The Jackson Clubs dark secret.

In 1842, this was the location of the Jackson Club, a club, for Men Only! This was the place where the elite of Jackson came to do business, visit, and talk about the news of the times. And becoming a member was not easy you had to be somebody important!
Mike Sommerville was somebody! Arriving in Jackson in 1843, he quickly developed a reputation as a powerful businessman, and was invited to become a member of the Jackson Club. Mike served two terms as club president, and even helped increase the membership of this Mens only organization. A proud member for 25 years, it wasnt until Mikes death in 1869 that it was discovered that Mike was really Michelle Yep! A Woman!

(Directions to the next stop use a different color or font to distinguish from text.) Your next stop on the tour is just one block down this street on the right, a large white home, number 321. It looks like an ordinary home, but theres an extraordinary story buried in the garden. Ill meet you there with a shovel.

More examples of Provoke, Relate and Reveal

Lets do a guided tour of the COW museum.
First we need an interpretive theme: Cows are amazing creatures that affect all of our lives in many different ways.

In the 1700s cows changed the face of the east coast countryside forever?
How? By eating grass!

But the wrong grass!

But there is more lets go to our next stop the skin stop.
Lets look at what holds the cow together its skin. Do you own and covet cow skin? To make it sound better we call it leather!

Lets take a look at the inside of a cow to see what is in us.

Ever have a hamburger, steak, ribs, or any other cow part for your lunch or dinner? You are what you eat. You are made up in part of cow stuff!

Lets move on to the business end of the cow had any lately?

What about the cow poo? We need it too!

If youre a vegetarian, you need cows too. Where do you think the cow poo goes? It may have been used to help grow your lunch (be sure to wash it first).

Did you know that cows were needed for elegant dinning? Is there a cow in your china cabinet?

Bone china is approximately 53% cow bone ash!

Of course dogs appreciate cows too!

I bet there might be a cow in your library! Can you hear it?
Ever been glued to a good book. Cows have been glued to good books for hundreds of years. Their leather covers protects the pages. Their glue held the bindings together.

Keep an eye out for cows in your childrens science class.

How Cows Communicate I heard it through the bovine.

Hi tech cows.

International Cows

The first Starbucks

Were not done yet we have to go to the cow on the street for more ways cows affect our lives.

Cow Joke Museum Branch

Cows in Social Science

Socialism: You have 2 cows. You give one to your neighbor.

Communism

You have 2 cows. The State takes both and gives you milk.

Fascism

You have 2 cows. The State takes both and sells you the milk.

Capitalism
You have 2 cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies. You sell them and retire on the income.

Cows in Business

An American Corporation:
You have 2 cows. You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of two cows. You hire a consultant to analyze why the cow has dropped dead.

A French Corporation

You have two cows. You organize a protest against the US milk because their cows are genetically modified.

A Japanese Corporation

You have two Cows. You redesign them so they are onetenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce the same milk as long as they are massaged.

A German Corporation
You have 2 cows. You re-engineer them so they live for 50 years and make cheese themselves.

An Italian Corporation

You have 2 cows.

You turn them into designer handbags.

A Swiss Corporation

You have 500 cows. You charge the owners for not telling anyone about the cows.

A British Corporation
You have two cows. You dress one up and keep it in Buckingham Palace.

A New Zealand Corporation

You have 2 cows. The one on the left looks very attractive

But for some people 2 cows are not enough! The big Cowperations want all the cows!

They collect cows!

They keep extra cows for emergencies!

Then there are the Cow Towns!

We name our towns after cows.

Recently voted one of the top 5 smelliest cities in the US.

At our last stop of the tour well look at one of the most important things cows give us.
Know what it is?

Cowboys of course.

What would cowboys be with out cows?

Be sheepboys! That just doesnt sound romantic at all.

We teach children about cows at an early age too!

Is there a little cow in each of us?

How now brown cow? Now you know how!

Well, this is the end of the tour. Who can tell me at least one way cows affect your life?

Now you know why cows are amazing creatures that affect all of our lives in many different ways. The next time you see a cow thank it you may see it or its affect on you again in the future and not even know it.

Now you know the rest of the story.

Time for a Break