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Oct 3, 2014
Translation industry news

Charter change proposal calls for language equality in Philadelphia

Source: NewsWorks
Story flagged by: Maria Kopnitsky

A Philadelphia City Councilwoman wants more of city government more accessible to those who don’t speak English.

Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez wants to mandate that all offices coming up with “language access plans” to ensure language barriers don’t keep residents from city services.

“A real language access plan,” she said. ‘One that would allow the departments to plan some goals and achieve them and that they are monitored to insure that the new immigrant friendly Philadelphia is speaking to all of its constituents.”

Quinones-Sanchez says Mayor Michael Nutter has demanded such access through executive orders, but her proposed change to the city charter would solidify it for the future. More.

See: NewsWorks

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Comments about this article


Charter change proposal calls for language equality in Philadelphia
Reed James
Reed James
Chile
Local time: 09:50
Member (2005)
Spanish to English
I favor using those resources for ESL Oct 3, 2014

Although it is indisputable that offering language services to immigrants is comforting and allows them to function at the same level that they did in their own countries, I feel that it hobbles and isolates them. They will only be speaking their language to other people who speak their language. Isn't emigrating to a new country all about opportunities? Why not teach them English instead? That way, they will learn a new language and be more employable. Some will become bilingual and have even m... See more
Although it is indisputable that offering language services to immigrants is comforting and allows them to function at the same level that they did in their own countries, I feel that it hobbles and isolates them. They will only be speaking their language to other people who speak their language. Isn't emigrating to a new country all about opportunities? Why not teach them English instead? That way, they will learn a new language and be more employable. Some will become bilingual and have even more opportunities.

Also, the lady promoting this action should really insist that her surname be written correctly: Quiñones. ▲ Collapse
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 15:50
Spanish to English
+ ...
Un disparate Oct 4, 2014

The proposal sounds like a recipe for trouble. I agree that promoting English for immigrants is a better course to take.
 
Henry Hinds
Henry Hinds  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 07:50
English to Spanish
+ ...
They Won't Learn Oct 6, 2014

Many immigrants won't learn English or won't learn much, especially Spanish speakers. However, in a large city like Philadelphia, there should be more than enough qualified bilingual English - Spanish speakers in the community that could be hired as employees so that all agencies with public contact could have a few around at all times. I don't know about more "exotic" languages.
 
Nathaniel2
Nathaniel2
Local time: 15:50
Slovak to English
I have never understood Oct 7, 2014

why immigrants refuse to adapt to the language of their new country. It's absurd to expect the welcoming country to accommodate them in language for the long term. My parents had to pass an exam to become US citizens (it was in English! go figure!) and to be honest, that exam had questions to which most US high school students would never have known the answer! Nobody wants anyone to give up their heritage, but when in Rome, please learn the language. I can't imagine moving to France (or anywher... See more
why immigrants refuse to adapt to the language of their new country. It's absurd to expect the welcoming country to accommodate them in language for the long term. My parents had to pass an exam to become US citizens (it was in English! go figure!) and to be honest, that exam had questions to which most US high school students would never have known the answer! Nobody wants anyone to give up their heritage, but when in Rome, please learn the language. I can't imagine moving to France (or anywhere else) and expecting the government officials to learn my language to communicate with me because I'm too lazy/uninterested/whatever to learn French. Grrr. ▲ Collapse
 
Henry Hinds
Henry Hinds  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 07:50
English to Spanish
+ ...
Ask an American Oct 8, 2014

Ask an American why he/she will go to a foreign country for an extended period of time and never learn so much as a word of the local language, and yet some of them will be the ones who most complain about immigrants not learning English in the USA!
 

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