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by monzo

Does Communication hinder the Access to Public Health?

Carmen Pena-Díaz

As stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, communication is not just a right for people who can communicate effectively within their dominant culture, but public information is a democratic right for all citizens and it thus has to be available and accessible to all. 

Immigration is a phenomenon which has been on the increase in Spain for over two decades and yet the access to public services by users with linguistic and cultural difficulties has not been tackled by authorities. In fact, linguistic and cultural issues are often not recognised as an integral part of migratory movements or social integration. While professionals of interlinguistic and intercultural communication know that language and culture are key components to achieve immigrant integration and consolidate a truly multilingual society, policy makers at local, national, or supranational levels do not always seem aware of the risks and costs of not providing interpreting and translation services, particularly those affecting the health of users. In healthcare, there are currently no effective provisions for communication problems at present in Spanish hospitals. An example that suggests the poor management of the situation in relation with the migrants’ access to public healthcare is the fact that relying on a family member in medical consultations is one of the main practices that affects communication. 

This paper will present a Narrative Inquiry analysis obtained from interviews collected from a sample of eight clinicians about their experiences communicating with foreign users who cannot communicate in Spanish and thus their problems accessing health services and receiving the adequate services. 

Keywords: language rights, access to public services, interpreting and translation, health

by monzo

Linguistic integration of adult migrants in Europe today

Halina Sierocka

According to the United Nation data, the number of international migrants reached 281 million in 2020 for the world as a whole, which means a 46% increase compared to 1990. With these new waves of migration and its diversity one may pose a question whether there is a link between the migration crisis we are facing now and the level of migrants’ integration (particularly linguistic integration) into host societies. Bearing in mind the fact that “knowledge of the ‘host’ language is seen as a barometer of migrants’ integration in a particular society” the presentation endeavours to examine whether the language policies and requirements which have been introduced over recent years, and which are predominantly rooted in political responses to the migration crisis, affect the level of social cohesion and integration of immigrants into host societies.

The presentation commences with discussion on the notion of integration in the context of migration. Language policies implemented in EU states for the integration of adult migrants are then presented together with a list of language requirements imposed on immigrants in specific member states. In addition, apart from addressing the opportunities and services provided to immigrants to facilitate the process of linguistic integration, the paper also tackles some of the incidental challenges that arise. In view of these issues, the paper later proceeds to offer an in-depth analysis of language learning, language requirements and adult migrant integration. Examples from Germany, France and the United Kingdom, the countries which are considered the top three destinations favoured by migrants, provide specific cases for the aforementioned analysis. The paper concludes with some implications and recommendations for actions which might serve to enhance language education for adult migrants thus contributing to their better linguistic integration into society despite the current migration crisis. While this will not provide a solution to the overall problems generated by the present level of mass-migration, it might well assist in mitigating some aspects of its effect.

Keywords: adult migrants, language policies, linguistic integration

by monzo

Achieving Language Justice through Increased Capacity for Provisioning Professional Translation and Interpreting Services

Indira Sultanic

Language justice is social justice. However, achieving language justice is not a linear but a continual process. One that comprises ongoing education and training of all stakeholders to ensure meaningful access to services for Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals through translation and interpreting. This research project explores current practices around language access and the provision of translation and interpreting services, in relation to both state and federal language access guidelines in the United States. It does so within the broader framework of language access as a catalyst for achieving greater equity and social justice among minoritized, LEP communities. It builds on existing translation and interpreting research on (in)equities in access to social services for these communities. Accessing information in one’s preferred language and desired modality is critical to their ability to participate fully in all areas of daily life. Despite existing state and federal policies that require health and social services to comply with language access guidelines, the COVID-19 pandemic shined a light on the inconsistencies, and the ad hoc approach to provisioning these services. Thus, this project explores the critical components which are paramount to building language justice and offers a model for increasing interpreter and translator capacity through interprofessional education and training. Lastly, it re-examines existing and considers additional best practices for language access in the U.S.

Keywords: language justice, language access, interprofessional collaboration, meaningful access, interpreting, translation