Language Line Services' - Cross-Cultural Update for February 17 to March 2

Useful Cultural News, Tips and Timely Information

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No write-off for poor communication 

In 2008, over 135 million Americans filed taxes, a complicated and sometimes grueling exchange of one’s income and expense history. Considering the 13 million Americans that need language support annually, tax communication can be quite an undertaking for federal agency representatives. 

With the April deadline quickly approaching, the IRS has set up locations across the country to assist persons with preparing and filing their taxes.  To communicate with limited-English speakers, the IRS’ offerings include interpreters in their native languages through leading interpretation provider Language Line Services, available 24 hours a day in more than 170 languages. 

A Language Line Services representative is available to discuss the importance of language assistance in these communication-critical government functions, and what types of assistance are available to limited-English speakers when preparing their taxes.

For more information or to schedule interviews, contact Julie Jimenez at 3054615794 or julie.jimenez@rbbpr.com.

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Language Barriers Hamper Critical Care Communications

According to a new study reported in the January 2009 issue of Critical Care Medicine, families with non-English speaking members may be at risk of receiving less information about their relative's critical illness.

The prospective study, conducted by the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, found that 63 percent of non-English-speaking primary surrogate decision makers had poor understanding versus 40 percent of English speakers. In a setting where time-constraints, complex medical conditions and heightened emotions already impact communication, language barriers place additional burdens on limited English proficient family members.

A Language Line Services representative is available to discuss the resources hospitals are using today to eliminate language barriers. For more information, contact Shawn Yanan at shawn.yanan@rbbpr.com or at (305) 962-1768.

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Interpreter, A Recession Proof Career 

From a shortage of qualified interpreters in our nation’s local court systems, to the ongoing need for interpreters at local 911 centers, hospitals and other government organizations, professional interpreters and persons with strong language skills who train to become an interpreters are in more demand than ever. 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the interpretation field is expected to grow by close to 24 percent in the next decade, much higher than the average for almost all other careers. This surge in demand for interpreters is easy to understand when one takes into account U.S. Census data that classifies over 19 million United States residents as limited English speakers, and reports that almost 2.6 million adults speaking no English at all.

A Language Line Services representative is available to speak about interpretation as a career, as well as the company’s ongoing interpreter recruitment push to keep up with the continuing demand for language services in the United States and abroad.  For more information, contact Jeanine Karp at (305) 785-0424 or Jeanine.Karp@rbbpr.com.

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Charitable organizations need language access to effectively serve their communities

Like businesses, many charitable organizations face the challenge of serving populations with little-to-no English skills.  But unlike many business customers, the clients of non-profits can often come from underprivileged, under served communities with fewer resources to navigate their concerns through U.S. agencies and providers.

Since language can pose a barrier to helping others, many non-profits use interpretation to open doors in their communities.  Consider The Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.  In the San Francisco Bay Area’s growing multi-lingual community, the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation found that about 30 percent of the Bay Area’s wishes were for non-English-speakers that required language assistance.

The chapter formed a relationship with leading interpretation and translation provider Language Line Services, allowing for instant communication, and wish-granting, in more than 170 languages. 

A Language Line representative is available to discuss the unique language access needs for non-profits within evolving demographics and the innovative tools they can use to expand their services across language barriers.   For more information or to schedule interviews, contact Christine de la Huerta at 305-448-7535 or christine.delahuerta@rbbpr.com.

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ABOUT LANGUAGE LINE SERVICES

Language Line Services, the world’s leading provider of language-based services, is a trusted partner to thousands of organizations whose focus is to effectively serve the rapidly expanding market of limited English speakers.

The company delivers a dynamic suite of solutions spanning translation, transcription, phone and video interpretation, interpreter certification, localization and localized software and devices, enabling clients to communicate with customers in their preferred language.

Through its leading-edge technology infrastructure, Language Line Services provides support for more than 170 languages to its industry-leading portfolio of clients across markets including health care, financial services, government, telecom, manufacturing, insurance, entertainment, travel, and more.

For information on how Language Line Services is helping clients achieve their strategic multi-cultural marketing and regulatory compliance objectives, please call 1-800-752-6096.