Language Services

Indigenous people speak more than 4,000 of the world’s languages. These languages are not only methods of communication, but also extensive and complex systems of knowledge that have developed over millennia and are central to the identity of indigenous peoples.¹

Why are Interpreters Needed? 

Interpretation is important because quality health care, legal care, social services, and advocacy require effective communication. Individuals may have a basic working understanding of Spanish or other national languages, but not enough to communicate the nuances of a legal situation, health condition, or educational requirement. Furthermore, interpretation is a complex skill that requires training and experience^{2, 3}. When we are not culturally competent or ensure appropriate language services there can be 1) unnecessary expenditures in time and resources; 2) unnecessary processes or treatments; 3) a lack of important services (for example medical tests or education); or 4) legal liabilities.^{2, 3} 

What Does Language Access Mean? What is the Law Regarding Language Access?

Limited English proficiency refers to individuals whose primary language is not English and who have a limited ability to speak, read, write, or understand English. Language access refers to the ability of individuals who have limited English proficiency to access programs or services.²

Title VI applies to federal agencies and recipients of federal funds. Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. The 1974 Lau vs. Nichols case ruled that discrimination against individuals with limited English proficiency, for example failing to provide them with the same services as English speakers, was national origin discrimination under Title VI. Executive Order 13166 reinforces Title VI protections for individuals with limited English proficiency and requires federal agencies to have systems in place to ensure limited English proficiency individuals have access to services.²  

Article I, Section 14 of the California Constitution prohibits discrimination by the state or state agency on the basis of race, national origin, ethnic group identification, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, color, or disability. The term ethnic group identification includes linguistic groups.²  If an individual has been denied access to services based on language, they may file a complaint with the Department of Justice or agency that provides federal funding. Agencies who do not comply with Title VI may lose funding. If language discrimination is intentional individuals can file a lawsuit.²

Indigenous Languages Are Diverse 

There is a great deal of language diversity even within countries and local municipalities, and many individuals may speak a language that is not the majority language in a country. Many indigenous languages are not related to English or Spanish, such as K’iche’, Mam, and Zapotec – there are 129 distinct indigenous language families in Latin America alone.^3,4 In addition, there are 68 indigenous groups and 364 languages in Mexico,^4,5 and just within the Mexican state of Oaxaca, there are 16 language groups.³ Similarly, in Guatemala 40% of the population is indigenous.³ This means that providers cannot assume all patients that have emigrated from Latin America speak Spanish as their first language.

How Can I Be an Advocate for Language Justice?⁶

• There are sizable indigenous speaking immigrant communities, especially from Mexico (mostly from Oaxaca) and Guatemala (mostly Mayan speakers).
• Simply stop and ask for the individual to explain back what you have been communicating to them. This can help assess if an interpreter is needed.  
• Know who you serve but don’t rely purely on Census data (Latino/a and Hispanic are too broad as terms). 

• Identify and train multilingual and multicultural staff or use the interpreter services listed in this toolkit 

• Seek trainings and workshops: by language justice local experts 
  • • Dr. Gaspar Rivera Salgado (Ph.D UCLA Labor Studies): grsalgado@irle.ucla.edu
      • Expertise: Indigenous Mexican Migration to the US; History & Culture of Indigenous Peoples of Mexico; and Ethnic and Racial Relation in Mexico and the US.  
    • Antena Los Ángeles: info@antenalosangeles.org
      • Antena Los Ángeles is a 6-person collective founded in 2014, dedicated to language justice advocacy and organizing. Antena Los Ángeles works with individuals and groups to develop strategies for equitable communication across languages, using as our primary tools interpreting, translation, consulting, and education to expand the capacity to create spaces where everyone can participate fully. 
    • Odilia Romero: romeroodilia@gmail.com
      • Odilia Romero is a member of the Frente Indígena de Organizaciones Binacionales (FIOB) and for more than a decade has worked with indigenous Mexican and binational organizations advocating for human rights and cultural and political education.
  • Tips for speaking to someone who seems to speak limited Spanish 

• Speak slowly and clearly, not loudly 
• Ask them to explain back the information you have given them to help identify if they are comfortable in Spanish 
• Ask what their primary language is 
• Ask what estado (Mexico) or departamento (Guatemala) they are from 

• Ask if they want or need an interpreter 
• ¿Podría decirme de dónde es usted? ¿De qué estado? ¿De qué Municipio? ¿De qué Agencia Municipal? ¿Habla una lengua indígena? ¿Conoce a alguien que le pueda interpretar? 

• Do not rely on friends or family members to interpret 
• Work with communities to help inform people about language services 
• Seek feedback from limited English language individuals and their communities on language access 

Resources for the deaf and hard of hearing communities in Los Angeles:

https://gladinc.org/resources/

Resources for individuals who are low vision or blind and their families: 

http://ccbnet.org/res.htm

CRLA Referral List:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kpa0GJXdQ1VxESgd9Ol5reeuTgOberPJ/view?usp=sharing

Cultural Sensitivity PowerPoint:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qIFcGNKXkhx40ksEI2z2DjBK_dSwwi8X/view?usp=sharing

References

1.The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. (2018, April). Retrieved April 4, 2020, from https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp- content/uploads/sites/19/2018/04/Indigenous-Languages.pdf

2. Language Access Powerpoint by Maureen Keffer  

Keffer, Maureen. (2015). Language Access Rights of Indigenous Language Speakers https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WTkkUQ5IPI1cYGYEZpVjEu0O2Ltv-NAv/view?usp=sharing.  

3. Gaspar Rivera Salgado, PhD: Project Director with the UCLA Labor Center 

Rivera-Salgado, Gaspar. (2019). Cultural Awareness and indigenous Migrants in California. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qIFcGNKXkhx40ksEI2z2DjBK_dSwwi8X/view?usp=sharing. 

4. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs 

International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. (2019, January). Year of Indigenous Languages. https://www.iwgia.org/en/focus/international-year-of-indigenous-languages 

International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. (2018). Indigenous Navigator. http://nav.indigenousnavigator.com/index.php/en/ 

5. El Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía . (2015). México – Encuesta Intercensal 2015. Retrieved February 2020, from http://www3.inegi.org.mx/rnm/index.php/catalog/214/related_materials?idPro

6. Odilia Romero and Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo (CIELO)

For more information on ESL support from school districts, please refer to the Education section.