The Ever Growing U.S. Market
Among the 281 million people in the United States aged 5 and over, 19.7% (55.4 million) spoke a language other than English at home (U.S. census). This figure is up from the last year nearly 1%. In 1990 it was 14% (31.8 million) and 11% (23.1 million) in 1980. U.S. census states that 8.7% of the population over the age of 5 speaks English “less than very well.†Estimates of the number of people with limited English proficiency (LEP) range from about 11 million, or 4.2% of the U.S. population – who speak English “not well†or “not at all†– to over 21 million people (including those that speak “less than very wellâ€). Pew Research Center reports that 82% of the population increase in U.S. through 2050 will be the result of newly arrived immigrants.
The rights of LEPs are recognized under core civil rights law. Numerous pieces of federal legislation address the needs of LEPs. One of such federal legislation peaces is called Public Health Service Act. It states that health centers, substance abuse services, and other health programs serving significant number of LEPs must provide competent personnel fluent in their language (“Language Rights: An Integration Agenda for Immigrant Communitiesâ€). In California, where over 40% of the population speaks a language other than English, a new law taking effect January 1, 2009 mandates health care locations that health plans provide LEPs with language assistance services. Senate Bill 853 requires that the health plans evaluate the language make-up of each of the communities that they serve. The legislation stipulates that all vital documents must be translated into these languages and interpretation services made available to the enrollees at all points of contact. The new California law an example for other states with large LEP populations.
Another regulation, still in the process of being finalized, will require lending documents to be translated. Beginning in April 2009, California Assembly Bill 512 would require that all consumer real estate mortgage loans be translated into the primary language of the borrower. This one is a “no brainer.†I wonder how much of an effect did language related misunderstandings have in the current housing/mortgage crisis. Marketing financial products to LEP speakers is also gaining popularity. It has been noticed that number of participants in the retirement and investment plans increases when the information about them (brochures, fliers, etc.) has been translated into the languages spoken by the LEPs.
The need for culturally and linguistically appropriate services for the LEP population is on a rise. Interactions with businesses that are not based in U.S. (global market) are increasing. A new addition of a dozen countries to a Visa Waiver Program (total of 35 countries) also should create a need for U.S. companies to more clearly communicate with their customers or partners abroad.
Controlled English, Really?
I came across a website that offered a solution for technical document translations. It states that using "Controlled English" makes it easier for non-native English speakers to read, understand and translate. In fact, it states that only 1% of the English language is sufficient to communicate with customers in 180 or so countries.Is that possible? How many customers in those countries you can actually communicate with? 1% of the English language is sufficient, really? Even though the statement about 1% of the English language being sufficient appears to be outrageous, it is a claim that has to be backed up.Controlled English eliminates ambiguity, enhances readability and usability. Well, isn’t that just good writing? Well-written English texts eliminate ambiguity and enhance readability as well as usability. Any college graduate that took a course on technical writing may attest to that. In my Technical Writing class, I learned that well-constructed sentences go a long way. Technical writers should keep in mind that they are writing for translation and avoid idiomatic expressions, where possible stop using backward-pointing pronouns like “it,†“they,†“this,†or “these.†They should also include relative pronouns or conjunctions, connect phrases to the nouns that they modify, use punctuation correctly, use words with their primary meaning, avoid passive voice, etc.So the question remains, what is the solution? Is it Controlled English or Good English?