Language Line Services’ "Cross-Cultural" Update for Tues., September 2 to Mon., September 15, 2008 

Useful Cultural News, Tips and Timely Information

For a list July's 2008's top language requests for all states, visit http://languageline.com/page/topten

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Immigrants from Burma’s Myanmar Province make Denver, Nashville and Upstate New York Home:

In the last six months leading interpretation provider Language Line Services has seen requests for language assistance in Karen (a language spoken in Burma’s Myanmar Province), increase by more than 60 percent.  This increased influx of Karen speakers first started appearing at Denver and has since materialized in communities in upstate New York, Texas and Nashville.

Using its demographics tracking system, LanguageTrak™, leading interpretation company Language Line Services quickly reacted and has begun hiring new Karen interpreters with a goal of increasing its Karen interpreter base by nearly 100%.

Language Line Services is available to discuss the impact of this increase of Karen speakers on the local community, and the overall importance of reacting quickly when a new language need emerges to ensure hospitals and local municipalities are able to effectively serve all constituents, regardless of language. For interviews or more information contact Jeanine Karp at jeanine.karp@rbbpr.com or 305-785-0424.

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New Standards for Culturally Competent Patient Care:

The Joint Commission will use a grant from The Commonwealth Fund to revise and develop accreditation standards for culturally competent patient-centered care in hospitals across America.

This standards development initiative will explore how diversity, culture, language, and health literacy issues can be better incorporated into current Joint Commission standards or drafted into new requirements, which are targeted to take effect in 2011.

According to the Joint Commission, “Sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural and language needs impact the quality of care, patient safety, and patient and family satisfaction.” Language Line Services representatives are available to address the role of language access programs in providing culturally competent care.

To schedule an interview, please contact Shawn Yanan at shawn.yanan@rbbpr.com or call (305) 962-1768.

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High School Diplomas Lost in Translation:

Delaware recently released a new report that states that close to half of its Hispanic population speaks little or no English, while more than a third have not completed high school. 

Across the U.S., more and more studies are being released about the impact of limited-English proficiency on youth's enrollment and success in schools. 

Language Line Services, the leading provider of interpretation services, works with school districts across the country to ensure that both students and parents have access to language assistance in the school environment. 

A Language Line Services representative is available to speak on the importance of providing interpretation services to limited-English speaking parents and students, as well as its impact on students' overall success in school. 

For more information, contact Julie Jimenez at 305-461-5794 or julie.jimenez@rbbpr.com.

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Top Ten Foreign Languages Spoken In… New Hampshire, New Jersey and New Mexico

The information below is provided by LanguageTrak™, a demographics tracking service provided by Language Line Services. The data reflects the languages most requested by emergency services, government agencies, health care facilities and businesses in July 2008.

For a list of July's top language requests for all states visit http://languageline.com/page/topten.

Quick Facts

• New Jersey has one of the highest request rates for Bengali and Gujarati, Indo Indo-Aryan languages

• New Jersey has the third most requests for Haitian Creole

• New Jersey had more requests for Macedonian than any other state

• New Hampshire’s second most requested language is Somali

• New Mexico was one of only seven states with a request for Norwegian

Top Ten Foreign Languages Spoken In… New Hampshire, New Jersey and New Mexico

New Hampshire 

1. Spanish
2. Somali
3. Vietnamese
4. Arabic
5. Indonesian
6. Mandarin
7. Russian
8. Swahili
9. Portuguese
10. French

New Jersey 

1. Spanish
2. Portuguese
3. Russian
4. Haitian
5. Mandarin
6. Arabic
7. Polish
8. Korean
9. French
10. Vietnamese

New Mexico

1. Spanish
2. Mandarin
3. Korean
4. Arabic
5. Swahili
6. Russian
7. Vietnamese
8. Cantonese
9. French
10. Gujarati

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, call 1-800-752-6096.