Monterey Language Capital Advocates Celebrate ''Language Capital of the World''

Event Addresses City’s Foreign Language Strengths and Plans for the Future

Monterey, CA — (April 27, 2007) — Language advocates from around Monterey celebrated the area's rich linguistic and cultural heritage by renewing the title of “Language Capital of the World” on Wednesday. Hosted by the Monterey Language Capital Advocates, the breakfast gathering explored the impact and importance of language diversity to the Monterey community and featured discussions on local business, government and community efforts to promote the area’s worldwide language capabilities.

“Monterey’s linguistic strengths continue to grow and make an impression locally, nationally and internationally,” said Mayor of Monterey, Chuck Della Sala. “With a large number of local organizations and companies focusing on the training, instruction and application of foreign language interpretation and translation, it is most appropriate to recognize Monterey as the ‘Language Capital of the World’.”

While many visitors know Monterey as a world-class tourist destination, they may not be aware that Monterey is home to the greatest collection of foreign language strengths in the world, spending more hours on language instruction, interpretation and translation than anywhere else in the world. Due to this fact, the non-profit, public-private coalition, Monterey Language Capital Advocates (MLCA), worked for more than two years to attain the “Language Capital of the World” designation. By promoting Monterey’s dominant role in delivering translation and interpretation services across the globe, the group inspired Governor Pete Wilson in 1995 to officially designate Monterey as the “Language Capital of the World.”

“The ‘Language Capital of the World’ status has been an effective economic driver and image enhancer for Monterey's language assets,” said Louis Provenzano, President and Chief Operating Officer of Language Line Services. “The MLCA looks forward to reviving the organization, further positioning Monterey as the true ‘Language Capital of the World’.”

The greater Monterey area is directly involved with 25 percent of the nation's post-secondary learning of languages other than English and plays a major role in delivering translation and interpretation services around the globe. For instance, Language Line Services, one of the founding members of the MLCA, is the world’s leading provider of language services and a trusted partner to thousands of U.S.-based organizations focusing their marketing efforts on the limited English speaking community. Other founding members include the U.S. Army Defense Language Institute , the largest language training institute in the world, and the Monterey Institute of International Studies , which offers the only master’s degree program in conference interpretation in the United States.

“Monterey's community of world-class language organizations has a wonderful opportunity,” said Dr. Clara Yu, President of the Monterey Institute of International Studies. “The Monterey Language Capital Advocates will continue to successfully impact how future generations communicate and cooperate through increased awareness of languages and cultures. We're only at the first stage of what we can accomplish."

Additional founding members of Monterey Language Capital Advocates include the City of Monterey , California State University Monterey Bay , Monterey Peninsula College , CTB/McGraw-Hill , the Naval Post Graduate School , and Armanasco Public Relations .

About Monterey Language Capital Advocates (MLCA)

The Monterey Language Capital Advocates (MLCA) is a nonprofit, public-private coalition whose members have been working as a unit to spread the word that the city of Monterey is the “Language Capital of the World.” All MLCA members are based in the area. They meet regularly to discuss plans to expand upon Monterey's worldwide language capabilities. They are closely interconnected through various programs, creating a one-of-a-kind language network. For more information about Monterey Language Capital Advocates, visit http://www.monterey.org/langcap/ .

About Language Line Services

Language Line Services, the world’s leading provider of language services, is recognized as a trusted partner to thousands of U.S. based organizations focusing their marketing efforts on the limited English speaking community, which is growing rapidly in both size and affluence. The company provides access to the industry’s fastest service at highly competitive rates to all major sectors including government, health care, telecom, financial services and insurance by connecting them to customers, patients and sales prospects in over 170 languages. The growth of the industry has soared with increased immigration and government and regulatory compliance policies mandating organizations provide services to limited English speakers in their own languages. For more information about Language Line Services’ suite of video and over-the phone interpretation services, document translation, and bilingual testing and training, please call (800) 752-6096 or visit www.languageline.com .