PGLS Pulse: December 2024
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Welcome to the PGLS Pulse: your source of timely and thoughtful news about the language services industry.
Language Access as a Pillar of Governance
Effective communication is crucial for building community trust and fostering civic participation in the U.S., where over 350 languages are spoken and nearly 25 million people have limited English proficiency (LEP).
Multilingual outreach ensures that all community members, regardless of the language they speak, can access vital information about public resources, emergency services, and civic initiatives. By integrating language services at every touchpoint, government agencies and community organizations can more effectively meet the needs of LEPs.
This edition of PGLS Pulse highlights the critical role of language access in enhancing civic engagement, strengthening public trust, and promoting greater social cohesion.
Industry News
How Language Barriers Impact Involvement in the Political Process
A major challenge in the political process is how information is presented. This is especially true in Arizona, which is home to one of the largest Native American populations and where nearly 31% of the population is Hispanic and Latino.
Language barriers, lack of accessibility, and translation errors not only compel children to translate for their parents, but also discourage seniors from engaging in politics.
"If they're not able to vote, it not only impacts their ability to express their voice in democracy, but it also sends a message to the rest of the community that voting isn't for Native people," said Allison Neswood, a staff attorney at the Native American Rights Fund.
Although Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act mandates language assistance for voters, Neswood believes bilingual poll workers and radio announcements are inadequate because Native American languages are not always written.
Her suggestions include providing "written guides" to explain terms like "abortion" or "ranked voting" and collaborating with local organizations, such as Palabras Bilingual Bookstore, to distribute translated information. Community outreach, she emphasizes, is vital to overcoming language barriers in politics.
Understanding the Role of Language Access in Law Enforcement
Every day, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) must communicate vital information, interview witnesses and victims, and maintain phone lines and websites to ensure the flow of information. Yet, LEPs often face greater hurdles when seeking protection or communicating with state and local LEAs.
It is important for LEAs to overcome language barriers for three reasons:
The Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney's Office, and Denver Police Department developed a Memorandum of Agreement and Language Access Policy to better serve LEPs. The police department provides language training, tests bilingual officers' proficiency before qualifying them, and compensates them for their skills.
Why the City of Seattle Prioritizes Language Access
With 1 in 5 Seattle residents speaking a language other than English, the pandemic unearthed disparities in access to key services and information for immigrant and refugee communities. It also highlighted the need for a robust translation system that all city departments could utilize to efficiently generate in-language content.
In 2021, the city launched a Language Access Program, which included translated COVID-19 resources, interpretation services at virtual meetings, and language-specific outreach efforts. The program now sets a high standard for multilingual civic engagement. Executive Order 2017-10 directs city departments to update and prioritize the implementation of the Language Access Program. Some of the program's priorities include:
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For Linguists
Lack of Translation Services and Trust Leave Out Voices in Stockton
In Stockton, where 45% of residents are Latino and over 40% speak a language other than English at home, language barriers have hindered access to public safety information and eroded trust in the police.
This issue became evident during a town hall meeting in April 2021 to discuss serial killings, where five of the seven victims were Hispanic. Many Spanish-speaking residents left frustrated due to the lack of interpreting services. Although Zoyla Moreno, a neighborhood watch captain, tried to help, she was not a certified interpreter and lacked the necessary qualifications to interpret at such meetings.
The Stockton Police Department was urged to reintroduce earphones for interpretation during meetings. Additionally, city officials worked on creating a citywide webpage using Google Translation services to provide bilingual access to important information and updates.
The Woman Making Tax Season Less Intimidating for Migrants
The 2021 American Community Survey reported that undocumented households contributed $30.8 billion in taxes, including $18.6 billion in federal and $12.2 billion in state and local taxes.
However, immigrants still face many barriers that deter them from reporting their income, such as a lack of translation services, financial limitations, poor access to transportation, and misinformation about the tax filing process.
Esmirna Jiménez is one of the few tax preparers in the area who is a native Spanish speaker and an IRS Certified Acceptance Agent. Her business, Monetaric Multi Services, serves around 500 people in central Pennsylvania, the majority of whom are Spanish speakers.
Her work is an example of what culturally competent tax services could look like for a population that is often overlooked during tax season.
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