America, Home of the Diverse:
If there is anything we know to be true in life, it’s the fact that change is constant, nothing ever stays the same or stands still for too long. The demographic in America has significantly shifted and is continuing to evolve day by day, the Pew Research Center says by 2055, the U.S. will not have a single racial or ethnic majority. In the past 50 years, nearly 59 million immigrants have come to America mainly from Latin America and Asia. 14% of the country’s population is foreign born compared with just 5% reported back in 1965. Asia now beats out Mexico and supplies America with the largest number of immigrants each year.
Language Statistics in Major Cities Across America:
The Census Bureau reports, there are at least 350 languages spoken in American homes.
- New York Metro Area; at least 192 languages spoken in homes, 38% of the metro area population age 5 and over speak a language other than English at home.
- Los Angeles Metro Area; at least 185 languages spoken in homes, 54% of the metro area population age 5 and over speak a language other than English at home.
- Chicago Metro Area; at least 153 languages are spoken at home, 29% of the metro area population age 5 and over speak a language other than English at home.
- Miami Metro Area; at least 128 languages are spoken at home, 51% of the metro area population age 5 and over speak a language other than English at home.
- Atlanta Metro Area; at least 146 languages are spoken at home, 17% of the metro area population age 5 and over speak a language other than English at home.
- Seattle Metro Area; at least 166 languages are spoken at home, 22% of the metro area population age 5 and over speak a language other than English at home.
Population shifts impact the needs of the people you serve and do business with on a daily basis, it’s important to be aware and understand these shifts in order to stay prepared.
Language Diversity Produced a Need for Section 1557:
The amount of language diversity in America has created a need for laws to be passed in order to sufficiently care for LEP individuals. Language barriers are huge roadblocks when caring for a person in a medical situation and this is why Section 1557 of the civil rights provision of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 was passed. Section 1557 prohibits discrimination on any grounds for health programs and activities receiving funding from the Department of Health and Human Service. “Provide Meaningful Access to Health Services by Partnering with a Language Service Provider,” explains in depth how language diversity in America has caused a problem for healthcare providers and offers solutions through the utilization of language services to help avoid substandard care due to language barriers.
It’s Time to Reassess Your Language Access Plan and Offer More Language Services:
If you currently offer language services to limited English proficient (LEP) clients or patients, then it may be time to take a second look at your language access plan in order to find areas that could use improvement. The language service industry has grown significantly in recent years and advancements in technology can offer many solutions to aid you in better accommodating the LEP individuals you serve. Language service providers such as Niki’s Int’l Ltd. offer a wide variety of time saving and cost effective language solutions to fit your needs. Niki’s Int’l Ltd. has linguists available in over 350 languages and dialects and offers on-demand service via Over the Phone Interpretation (OPI) or Video Remote Interpretation (VRI). You can literally be connected with an interpreter in the language of your choosing regardless of your location in a matter of minutes. “5 Reasons Smart Business Owners Partner with a Language Service Provider,” explains the many advantages companies gain by partnering with a language service provider and just how vital language services are in our linguistically diverse communities.
Target a Domestically Diverse Consumer Market By Hiring a Language Service Provider:
If you sell a product or service in this country you should definitely take note of the language diversity. Pew Research Center states, there are 15 million Hispanics residing in California, its Hispanic population accounts for more than a quarter (27%) of the nation’s Hispanic population. Following California is Texas, nearly one-in-five Hispanics nationwide (19%) reside in Texas, where the Hispanic population reached 10.4 million in 2014. In third place is Florida, with 4.8 million Hispanics, accounting for nearly one-in-ten (9%) of the nation’s Hispanics. Take advantage of the domestic diversity and hire a language service provider for language services such as website localization. If you want to reach the large and growing Hispanic consumer market in America for example, then localizing your website and offering the content in Spanish can help you appeal to the linguistically diverse market, gain customers and boost sales. “E-Tailers Are Neglecting the Hispanic Population and Losing Business (Website Localization Can Help),” talks about how most American E-Tailers do very little in regards to attracting or accommodating the Hispanic population or any diverse population for that matter. This lack of language accommodation leaves non-Anglophone Americans outside looking in on the advantages that online retailers provide, thus E-Tailers are missing out on big business opportunities.
Language diversity in the country will continue to increase, taking the time to re-evaluate the language services you’re offering your LEP patients and clients is a must for you to stay current in our evolving society. You may want to update the language services you already offer or take advantage of other services such as website localization if you want to attract new diverse business. Either way, understanding and acknowledging the immense amount of language diversity in America can help you in better accommodating and caring for the LEP individuals you serve everyday.
Niki’s Int’l Ltd. is a WBENC-Certified Women Business Enterprise with 21 years of language service experience. A global network of highly skilled interpreters and translators are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for on-site, telephonic and video remote interpretation services. Our linguists are available in over 350 languages and dialects, and our network includes certified interpreters and translators. Our work is guaranteed with a $1 Million Errors & Omissions policy, so that you can be confident that your project will be completed with the highest level of quality and professionalism within the field. For more information contact us at 1-877-567-8449 or visit our website at www.nilservices.com.