A colloquium is a meeting held to discuss a topic.
The Latin term colloqui ( "to converse" , "to confer" ) derived from colloquium , which has come to our language as colloquium . The concept refers to the conversation between two or more people .
For example: “A discussion between the club's leaders ended with the dismissal of the coach” , “After a brief discussion, Juan and María decided to leave the room” , The manager and his accountant started a discussion when they heard the news” .
The colloquium as a meeting
Another use of the notion of colloquium is linked to the meeting that allows a matter to be debated , with the participation of a limited number of people. In this sense, a colloquium can be associated with a round table , conference , panel or debate . Those who participate in the colloquium exchange opinions and experiences, in view of an audience: “I have been invited to participate in a colloquium with other businessmen” , “Yesterday I attended a colloquium of specialists in climate change and I learned many things about nature” , “The scientists who took part in the colloquium were dissatisfied with the limited state support.”
One of the most traditional colloquiums in Latin America is the IDEA Colloquium ( Institute for Business Development of Argentina ), which has been in more than 50 editions and in which renowned companies and political leaders have participated.
The colloquium can be associated with the round table.
Characteristics of these meetings
It is important to keep in mind that the colloquium in a business or academic setting entails a series of preparations that clearly differentiate it from a spontaneous conversation . For the organization of any debate or colloquium, a basic structure must be respected, which consists of three well-defined parts, essential to not overlook the main points and to maintain the relevant order during its development:
* preparation : the first step when planning a colloquium is to choose a topic to discuss and carry out in-depth research on it, with the aim of obtaining as much information as possible. Next, a person must be appointed moderator to ensure that communication is carried out in an orderly and respectful manner and that conversations do not deviate from the main subject. Finally, the invitations are sent to the participants through the corresponding means;
* development : the discussion begins with an introduction of the topic by the moderator, who must clearly establish its limits to prevent the focus of the conversation from being lost. Once the presentation has been completed, each participant proceeds to present their opinion;
* conclusion : finally, the moderator must briefly summarize the main points of the presentation and, if it has been successful, point out the conclusion reached by the participants.
Moderators and participants of a colloquium
It is worth mentioning that the role of the person in charge of moderating a colloquium is essential, given that they are in charge of various tasks that guide the event from beginning to end : they present the topic; They ask for explanations about various points; they invite participants to present their points of view on several occasions; They constantly monitor that there is general agreement regarding communication patterns and the validity of information; They maintain order, preventing interruptions and arguments.
The participants in a colloquium are not mere guests to a meeting, but rather make essential contributions, given that: they contribute new data and explanations to the information presented initially; They offer their point of view, which gives rise to new conclusions; They can freely oppose the ideas of others, politely explaining the reasons for their disagreement and encouraging the exchange of opinions.
A novel by Cervantes
“The colloquium of the dogs” , on the other hand, is the name by which one of the most famous exemplary novels of the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes is known.
The name derives from the definition of colloquium associated with a genre of literary composition in the form of dialogue .