October 2024

The Language Access Issue

What will it take to make language access a reality? From promoting inclusion to creating resources, the people, laws, and innovations featured in this issue of MultiLingual are opening doors and making a difference around the world.

Post Editing

anguage access is all about inclusivity — allowing people to fully participate in society no matter what language they speak. It’s an ideal that has been embraced by the United Nations and many countries around the world, with governments often requiring public services to be offered in minority languages. For indigenous people, language access efforts can help preserve and protect their native language. Meanwhile, in the private sector, more and more organizations and businesses are recognizing both the importance and benefits of enabling language access for their members or customers.

Of course, language access is a goal easier stated than achieved. It might involve increasing investment in language services, offering more diverse products, or inventing new technology. In the case that a government does not support language access, it could even require protest or civil disobedience.

This issue of MultiLingual approaches the topic from all these angles. An op-ed from Deema Jaradat promotes awareness of language access laws amongst linguists. An analysis from Bridget Hylak and Gosia Wheeler examines the intersection of language and disability access to digital products and services. Next, Sjur Nørstebø Moshagen describes his work creating language technology tools for speakers of low-resource — often endangered — languages. And finally, Gerald Roche interviews Abduweli Ayup, a language access activist and the recipient of a new award from the Global Coalition for Language Rights.

When perusing this issue, we hope you’ll consider what you can do to help make language access a reality.

Column

PAST TENSE

Collateral Damage

By Ewandro Magalhães

The Mayan civilization may have vanished, but its linguistic heritage endures. Today, up to 22 ancient Mayan languages are still spoken in Guatemala and beyond, though their survival remains precarious. Ewandro Magalhães describes the challenges facing native speakers and efforts to provide language services to those in need.

PERSPECTIVES

Why Linguists Should Know About Language Access Policies

By Deema Jaradat

Deema Jaradat provides an overview of language access laws in the United States and argues that knowledge of these policies can help linguists improve not only their own employment opportunities, but also outcomes for their clients and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals across the country.

Business

Digital Accessibility Is a Win-Win for All

Beyond mere compliance, accessibility for people with disabilities is a business opportunity

By Bridget Hylak and Gosia Wheeler

The authors argue that ensuring access to digital products and services for people with disabilities is not only a legal requirement and an ethical practice, but also a great business strategy for reaching new consumers.

Gabriel Fairman

The Human Element

Supported by Bureau Works

Fascinated by the philosophies and theories that have guided civilization, Gabriel Fairman found himself working with languages — a binding element at the center of all those human concerns. Now the CEO of Bureau Works, he uses his open, informal approach to guide the company and its translation management system in a field grappling with the implications of machine assistance.

Generative AI Is Reshaping the Loc Teams

Supported by Translated

Alessandro Cattelan, COO of Translated, discusses the new skills that language professionals will need to adapt to the era of generative AI.

Boostlingo and the Future of Language Access

Improving lives through language technology

Supported by Boostlingo

Since its founding in 2016, Boostlingo has strived to ensure that quality language access is available for everyone at the push of a button. CEO Bryan Forrester envisions a world where no one need worry about the quality of the language services impacting the quality of their life.

Technology

Developing Language Technology Tools for Low-Resource Languages

The Sámi Case Study

By Sjur Nørstebø Moshagen

For 20 years, Sjur Nørstebø Moshagen has led an effort to develop language technology tools for the indigenous Sámi languages of Northern Europe. While the project has produced many important tools, the limitations of commonly used hardware and software negatively affect their ease of use. Moshagen ends by proposing an “open language” model similar to the idea of open source.

profile

Abduweli Ayup

Winner of the First Language Rights Defenders Award

Interview by Gerald Roche

Scholar and activist Abduweli Ayup was imprisoned in China for his work promoting the language rights of Uyghur people and other ethnic groups. In this interview, he discusses his background and motivations, and offers some words of encouragement for language rights defenders everywhere.