A Rapidly Changing Demographic Calls for the Incorporation of Professional Translation and Interpretation Services:
When the public is faced with emergency situations and vital information needs to be delivered in order to keep people out of danger, translation and interpretation services should be a priority. In 2013, 61.6 million people living in the United States, U.S. and foreign born, spoke languages other than English at home. In 2015, that increased to 64.7 million people. Most of these individuals spoke English as well, however at least 25.1 million were considered to have limited English proficiency (LEP). The United States is a rapidly growing melting pot of cultures, languages, and diversity. More and more people are coming to realize that neglecting this sizable influx of non-English speaking individuals can create serious consequences.
Oftentimes caring for the needs of LEP individuals is not always considered during an emergency response. Perhaps a hurricane is going to impact a specific area that has a 30% Hispanic population, not only will officials need to get the evacuation information out in English, they need to have it translated in Spanish and American Sign Language as well. Anytime there are public announcements that intend to deliver vital information on T.V., there should be a Sign Language interpreter as well as a Spanish interpreter to ensure everyone in the community is receiving the information.
How to Ensure LEP Safety in Your Community in Times of Crisis:
Managing communication and the delivery of information to LEP community members can be accomplished in a stress free and concise manner. Partnering with a professional language service company (LSC) gains access to the translation and interpretation services you need. Once you have determined the languages prevalent in your area, you can choose from various language services that will accommodate the needs of all community members, regardless of the language they speak. The following is a breakdown of some of the aspects to consider when needing to have vital information translated or interpreted in times of emergency.
Tips to Follow When Having Vital Public Emergency Information Translated and Interpreted:
- Create a clear message that conveys precisely what you intend to say before having it translated or interpreted. Make sure you include the best traffic routes to use as well as pick up points in cases where evacuations are being called for.
- Never use machine translation software to translate important information, there is a strong possibility that the output of information will not match the input, and this could cause confusion in times of emergency.
- Ensure that 911 and 311 dispatchers are fully trained on how to use telephonic interpretation services when an LEP individual calls. When an emergency call is made there is no time to wait, telephonic interpretation connects you to an interpreter with little to no wait time. The service can be used on-demand and interpreters are available 24/7 so you will always have access to professional interpretation services.
- Another platform to use to ensure everyone has equal access to information is having the content displayed in various languages on city and news network websites. This allows you to have multiple languages displaying the information.
Partnering with a Language Service Company (LSC) Can Ensure Everyone Has Access to Professional Translation and Interpretation Services:
Translation and interpretation services must be considered early on in a crisis situation, neglecting to make the necessary language accommodations can leave community members in danger due to a language barrier. Niki’s Int’l Ltd. is a professional LSC known for accommodating the growing diversity in the United States with the provision of professional translation and interpretation services. They understand the urgency associated with the deliverance of vital information to the public and ensure their network of translators and interpreters are equipped to bridge language gaps even in the most difficult of times. Don’t allow a language barrier to put valuable members of your community in harm’s way, ensure equal access to public information through the provision of professional translation and interpretation services.
Niki’s Int’l Ltd. is a WBENC-Certified Women Business Enterprise with 20 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.