Branding Image

Language Line Services' - Cross-Cultural Update for March 2010

Useful Cultural News, Tips and Timely Information


Tax Help Available for Limited English Speakers: 

For many, tax forms seem to be written in a foreign language, making them difficult to complete by those proficient in English.  Imagine the difficulties faced by limited-English speakers struggling to complete these documents by the April 15th deadline. 

In an effort to assist those with limited-English proficiency, the Internal Revenue Service has teamed up with Language Line Services to provide over-the-phone interpretation for both those calling into the IRS with questions and field agents working with limited-English speaking persons across the country.  And the service has proven to be in demand, as Language Line Services provided interpretation services for over 1.1 million minutes for the IRS in 2009. 

A Language Line Services representative is available to discuss the importance of providing language assistance for limited-English speakers with tax questions, and how the IRS and Language Line Services are working to reduce language barriers in tax preparation.  For more information, contact Julie Jimenez at 305-461-5794 or . 


New Guide for Hospitals on Bridging Language Barriers:

In April, the Joint Commission, in collaboration with the National Health Law Program, will release an implementation guide to help hospitals meet the new and revised elements of performance (EPs) issued by the Joint Commission earlier this year, which are designed to improve patient–provider communication as part of its hospital accreditation program. 

The EPs address among other things qualifications for language interpreters and translators; collection of race, ethnicity and language data; identifying and addressing patient communication needs; and the provision of language services. The effective date of the new and revised EPs for accreditation purposes won’t occur before January 1, 2011, so that the commission can take into account the industry’s response to both the EPs and the guide.

Representatives from Language Line Services are available to provide commentary on the value of these new standards, the guide and the best practices currently in use by hospitals around the country. For more information, please contact Shawn Yanan at (305) 962-1768 or at


Does Your City Offer Services 180 Languages?

More and more cities continue to face an increasing need for interpretation services in order to provide social services to limited-English speakers easily.  While New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston continue to lead the U.S. in overall demand for interpretation services, language demand data from Language Line Services points to triple-digit spikes in language interpreter requests for 20 major U.S. cities, including Fort Worth, Memphis, Detroit, Jacksonville, San Antonio, Austin and Indianapolis. And these spikes are not limited to the United States alone. 

According to a recent article in the National Post, half of Toronto’s residents speak a language other than English or French.  In fact, the city's Multilingual Services division processed 1,716 translations in 40 languages in 2008. Because of increasingly diverse populations, major cities are hard-pressed to field enough foreign-language-speaking operators for 911 calls, or government services inquiries, to name a few, let alone have them available around the clock.

Toronto, like many cities, found a comprehensive solution whereby all their foreign language customer service calls are patched through to Language Line Services, whose interpreters help the call center worker answer the caller's questions in more than 180 different languages. 

A Language Line spokesperson is available to discuss how government, first responders, businesses and other entities can serve the language needs of their diverse publics.  For more information contact Chris de la Huerta at 305.448-7535 or . 


Law Enforcement Officials Face Increasing Need to Communicate in More Languages:

As the United States continues to welcome immigrants from around the world, the need for government services professionals who speak multiple languages rises as well. In particular, law enforcement officials on the front lines of the community have a desperate need to reach out to local citizens in communities with a large proportion of immigrants who have not yet mastered English as a second language.

As a result, many law enforcement departments are now seeking bilingual officers and the aid of interpretation companies to reduce misunderstandings, wrongful arrests and other unnecessary legal issues due to language barriers.

A Language Line spokesperson is available to discuss the impact of the potential rise in foreign language speakers into the United States and how government and law enforcement entities must arm themselves with the proper tools to break down language barriers in the communities they serve. For more information contact Alysia Powell at (305) 448-5078 or .


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.