ILLUSTRATIVE AUDIO EXCERPT — both voices read the same words

Have you got a lamp that flickers, a jacket with a loose button, or a small object you cannot bear to throw away? Start with a question: could this be repaired? In this imagined community repair café, people bring one object and work beside a volunteer. “Can you fix it?” asks a visitor. “Let’s find out what it needs,” says the volunteer.

FULL PASSAGE FOR YOUR EXPERIMENT — fictional repair cafe, approximately 90 seconds depending on pace

Have you got a lamp that flickers, a jacket with a loose button, or a small object you cannot bear to throw away? Start with a question: could this be repaired? In this imagined community repair café, people bring one object and work beside a volunteer. No experience is needed to begin a conversation. Bring the parts you still have, describe what changed, and leave electrical repairs to someone with the right skills. The café opens at 10:30. The first demonstration lasts 15 minutes. There are three things to remember: bring your object, bring your questions, and allow time to learn. “Can you fix it?” asks a visitor. “Let’s find out what it needs,” says the volunteer. Niamh, whose name is pronounced Neev, has brought a radio. She asks whether its USB cable is the problem. The answer is not obvious, so they check one thing at a time. Some repairs will work. Some will need a spare part or specialist help. Either way, the person leaves knowing more than when they arrived. What would you bring?

Pronunciation reference: Niamh = Neev. USB = U S B. 10:30 = ten thirty.