Political Stories

Linguistics Expert Says Language Usage Important, Calculated For Presidential Candidacy Acceptance and Inaugural Addresses

==== FULL VERSION OF A PRESS RELEASE FROM NEWSWISE====

http://www.newswise.com/

Source: Texas Tech University

http://www.depts.ttu.edu/communications/media/index.php

Released: Thu 28-Aug-2008, 20:00 ET

Newswise — When it comes to presidential candidates' acceptance and inaugural addresses, a good story teller can capture the audience's attention.

Part of George W. Bush's speech success in 2001 might be linked to his ability to cast a message by telling a good narrative story, said Mary Jane Hurst, a professor of linguistics at Texas Tech University. The Obama campaign is using the same strategy.

"George Bush did something interesting every time he spoke," she said. "He framed his messages and ideas as stories. That's a very appealing approach to language if the speaker can pull it off. People relate to storytelling and learn through stories, such as the biblical parable. The Obama campaign is making an effort to do the same thing."

That's just one facet of how the language used in speeches can tell a lot about the candidate even if it's not intentional.

Hurst said that much thought goes into what is said and how it's said. She's written three articles that have studied candidate speeches and language usage including invoking religion, using clever metaphors and even pronoun usage.

"The convention speeches usually are aimed at unifying the party, whereas inaugural speeches are trying to unify the country," Hurst said. "The different functions of the occasion result in language differences. In Clinton's 1992 convention acceptance speech, for example, the word hope was repeated several times. But at the inauguration in 1993, challenge became the dominant word."

© 2008 Newswise. All Rights Reserved.

Comment:

This is a good example of how language can be important in politics. As Hurst points out story telling is a well established method in religion. Ironically, this is the very opposite of the "sound bite" so beloved by TV. stations. Could it be that our natural instincts can understand certain human relationships much better than our conscious brain?

Tags: obama, president, presidential, speeches, language, linguistics, texas tech, politics, story telling

Language: a safety issue at sea

Rescued boat crew had no common language

Tuesday, 12 August 2008 15:01

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0812/fishing.html

RTÉ News; © RTÉ 2008

Background

Investigators concluded that the crew of a sunken fishing boat did not speak a common language. The Royalist, which sunk of the coast off An Daingean, Co Kerry, Ireland (Google Maps), had a crew of 18 with most speaking a different language. The skipper of the UK registered boat did not speak English. The investigators found a weather-tight door was open despite a notice in English warning to keep it shut.

Comments

It was recently reported that the Mary Rose (Wikipedia) suffered a similar fate when most of its crew did not speak English. In my blog entry on the Mary Rose story I said that language is a necessary cost, but not sufficient for the stability of the business. However, it seems that owner of ships and boats do not take language as a serious factor.

The other factor the Royalist has in common with the Mary Rose is low labour cost. We can safely assume that the reason the crew of the fishing boat were not Spanish or British is because the crew were not paid enough to attract skilled people.

The issue here is that globalisation seems to require a common language. Is it time that the world community recognised the need fort a common language and started doing something about it?

Bottom Line

Language is a real safety problem on ships.

Tags: language, English, sinking, boat, sea, globalisation, globalization

References:

Google Maps UK: An Daingean, Co Kerry

The Mary Rose [Trust]: http://www.maryrose.org/

Mary Rose. (2008, August 6). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:16, August 13, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_Rose&oldid=230120035

Language is a cost: http://lawlang.blogspot.com/2008/08/language-is-cost.html

Should we speak more than one language?

Caught in the grips of linguistic paranoia

Nataly Kelly

The Boston Globe, August 11, 2008

© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/08/11/caught_in_the_grips_of_linguistic_paranoia/

Background

In this article Kelly discusses the issue of whether Americans, and maybe their President, ought to learn to speak other languages. She also writes about the opinions expressed by Senators McCain and Obhama, who both seem to be positive about language diversity.

Kelly also writes: "The Quality of Life Index, published by The Economist in 2005, showed that the five countries with the highest standard of living were Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Luxembourg, and Sweden." She put this down to having a European address and, "they promote multilingualism."

Comment

National language is an old issue and it seems to me that the American preoccupation with languages is the more politically correct option than religious diversity. Europe, it seems, is more concerned with religious diversity. Apart from a few fringe interests, Europe does not have a language problem, only a huge translation bill.

However, I have my doubts whether Kelly was right in putting a lot of emphasis of the Quality of Life Index. To being with, a lot has happened in Europe since 2005. But I would say that the reasons why the Scandinavian countries have the highest quality of life is because they are countries with a small population, but more importantly, they have strong social policies. For example, I doubt if there is anyone in these countries who does not have health cover.

I agree that knowing different languages can go along way to help us communicate with each other, but as I have indicated many times in this blog, it is not the ideal state of affairs. Business people might be in a better position to benefit from knowing different languages, not only because business is a neutral activity, when compared to politics or culture, but also because the objectives are clear. Politicians and cultural leaders have a constituency to persuade and it is the reaction of the constituency that matters.

Yes, Kelly has a point when she says, "Know they enemy." But I think she would be better off not making enemies in the first place.

Bottom Line

Language unites us, languages keep us divided.

Tags: language, politics, multi linguists, second language, business, president, America,

Language is a cost

Lost in translation: Mary Rose's demise blamed on multilingual crew

By Andy McSmith

Friday, 1 August 2008

©independent.co.uk

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/lost-in-translation-mary-roses-demise-blamed-on-multilingual-crew-882615.html

Background

Researchers from the University College London claim their research suggests that the Mary Rose (19 July 1545) sunk not because of French cannon fire, but because the crew did not understand the instructions of the English officer. The researchers believe that they have evidence that suggests that a large number of the crew were non-English speakers, maybe Spanish speakers, but certainly Southern European.

Comments

Language is indeed a material factor in business and other walks of life. I wonder whether there is a paradox here. It seems that when we communicate using the same language things might just work normally. If, however, we did not have a language in common, the consequences of a mistakes or misunderstanding might be more serious than the benefits of understanding each other. It seems that language is a cost factor for maintaining a state of equilibrium, but failure to pay this cost might result in disproportionate negative consequences.

Bottom Line

Language is a necessary cost, but not sufficient for stability in business.

Tags: translation, language, crew, navy, misunderstanding

References

The Mary Rose [Trust]: http://www.maryrose.org/

Mary Rose. (2008, August 6). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:16, August 13, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_Rose&oldid=230120035

Government under a spell: time to let go

Can the government change the way we spell?

http://blogs.ft.com/undercover/

May 22, 2008

Tim Harford on his FT.com blog writes about the Portuguese government's attempt to legislate so that Portuguese words would now be written with Brazilian spelling. He is not convinced that such moves would be very effective.

My Comments:

The issue ought not to be whether such government moves would be effectives, but whether language is the business of government. I am not convinced that it is. Language reflects personal and social experience and should develop with the evolution of society. Moreover, governments do not owe the language people speak so there is not "national interest" for the government to concerned about.

Of course, governments can choose what language the administration speak and how they write it. I am not convinced that they have a right to interfere with the national curriculum.

In any event governments ought to concern themselves with more relevant things such as health services, law and order, political stability and so on.

Language, government, spell,

Mental Math Dependant On Language, Researchers Find

Mental Math Dependant On Language, Researchers Find

ScienceDaily (2001-10-16) -- The language most bilingual people use to mentally solve math problems isn't necessarily their native language or even the language that is most prevalent in their environment. Psychological research shows it's the language in which they were first taught math - a finding with educational implications, especially for areas with high concentrations of bilingual persons.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/10/011015060024.htm#



Comment (later)


maths, math, language, bilingual, native language,

Learning Disabilities Associated With Language Problems Later In Life

*- A MUST READ ARTICLE - *

Learning Disabilities Associated With Language Problems Later In Life

ScienceDaily (2008-02-13) -- Individuals with a neurodegenerative condition affecting language appear more likely to have had a history of learning disabilities than those with other types of dementia or with no cognitive problems, according to a new article.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080211172618.htm#

*Comment *

The more we learn about how we function, especially brain related functions, the less need we have for value judgement words such as good, bad, and in this case lazy, incompetent, ignorant, thick and so on. I think this article shows us why.

On a more political note, maybe all those school league tables so beloved by government in Britain and elsewhere, may now be put to good use by identifying the special needs of those at the bottom of the list rather than bestowing excessive privileges to those at the top. This does not mean those conform to the system should not be rewarded, but that the top group are not the only group who deserve our attention. As a society we just cannot afford to abandon part of our members.

Finally, this research shows once again that language is more than just words and grammar, but that language is more important than we care to think.

Lawrence

language, medical, learning, learning disabilities, neurological, mental, league tables, education, dementia,

Illiteracy__A healthcare issue

Illiteracy__A healthcare issue

Country:
USA

Source:
The Silent Epidemic — The Health Effects of Illiteracy
Erin N. Marcus, M.D., M.P.H.
Copyright © 2006 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.
n engl j med 355;4 www.nejm.org July 27, 2006
Downloaded from www.nejm.org on July 31, 2006 .
For personal use only. No other uses without permission.
>Click to Link<
(You might need to register with the NEJM for access)

= THIS IS A MUST READ ARTICLE =

Story:
Part A
A patient reported to a clinic for a tune up, but had not taken his cardiac or diabetes medication. The patient was then instructed by the new physician on how to take the medication using simple English. The patient agreed to take the medication, but when reporting again the patient had irregular records for his diabetes. The student who saw him first suspected that the patient was illiterate.

Part B
Patients with reading problems my avoid outpatient doctors because of the paperwork and reading involved. A&E departments are user-friendly for illiterate patients because others do the necessary paper work. Shame and guilt might be associated with illiteracy and people are reluctant to mention their problem.

The relationship between illiteracy and health is still unclear, but illiterate people are more likely to report ill health. Doctors using simple and jargon free language might not be enough.

Part C
Routine screen for illiteracy might create problems for the health care sector: takes too long, embarrasses people and might stigmatise patients. An in an era of “Pay for Performance” model, illiterate people might be excluded or not given the right attention they need.

Facts:
- 14% of adults in the USA have below basic level of prose literacy.
SEE ARTICLE for details and more statistics.

Language Issues:
- Is there a fundamental difference between spoken language and written language for the human mind?
- Could it be that spoken language is the minimum language skills one needs to survive? Does this hold true in a society that depends on reading skills like ours?
- Can a human being survive in a society without any language skills at all and unaided by anyone? Is this the same situation for immigrants in a country where they do not speak the local language?
- What are the differences between an illiterate person and an immigrant who does not speak/read the local language?

Comments:
- One of the issues which this article identifies is that there are no solutions that have been fully tested, i.e. scientifically confirmed, presumably to medical standards, although some studies do identify one possible solution or another. Maybe the problem is not one of science, as such, but judgement and common sense might be more useful in these situations.
- just because some solutions cannot be tested scientifically it does not mean that the solution is not valid or the right solution. For example, healthcare budgets are not arrived by scientific testing nor value judgments about what is the right thing to do.
- who is responsible for illiteracy in our society? Society itself for stigmatising it and maybe prevent people from discussing their problem? Or the individual for not fully preparing themselves to live and function in our society?

Bottom-Line:
Can we afford illiteracy today?

Accent Issues for Scientist

Accent Issues for Scientist

Country:
USA

Source:
Good communication starts with "ARRR!"
Sunday, June 18, 2006
The Seattle Times
ERIC SEALS / KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company
LINK

Story:
A Chinese born scientist was asked by her US boss to improve her accent because her colleagues were having difficulties understanding her. The scientist is qualified as an MD and has a Masters degree from China, PhD from Britain and postdoctoral studies from Britain, Canada and the US.

Her boss was afraid that he might hurt her feelings. Her language coach wanted to help her produce American sounds.

Facts:
- The scientist could not pronounce the letters R and L
- The company paid $1,800 for a 10 week course for two employees to soften their accent.

Language Issues:
- Spoken language does reflect external factors such as the influence of our mother tongue or even culture.
- As the article points out there is a difference between an accent and an accent that interferes with our communication.
- Accents are an interesting example, in my opinion, of noise in a communication channel when the channel is being used to transmit messages from a different system. However, when speaking within our group do we make allowances for accent distortions or does the accent become part of the spoken message?

Comments:
- How much of the scientist’s problems were due to accent on the one hand and the inexperience of her colleagues in hearing a non American sounding English? How relevant is the fact that she also studies in Britain and Canada.
- Do we have some sort of duty to correct someone’s flawed pronunciation?
- Do we have a duty to make sure that those around us can understand us easily?
- Should accents be regarded as a racial issue or a communication issue?

Bottom-Line:
What is the cost of miscommunication in a company?

Woof! Woof! Bow Wow!

Woof! Woof! Bow Wow!

Country:
UK

Source:
Foreign police dogs hit language barrier
June 16, 2006
Copyright © 2006. The Sydney Morning Herald.
LINK1

Shortage of British dogs leaves police tongue-tied
By Paul Stokes
Telegraph Group Limited
(Filed: 14/06/2006)
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2006.
LINK2

Story:
British police are having to learn the language of their police dogs they obtain from abroad because the dogs don’t understand commands in English. Interpreters have to be used when giving commands and police have to learn the commands in the dog’s language. The dogs are also being taught to understand commands in English.

Facts:
- Eight of South Yorkshire Police's 48 dogs are from abroad.
- Some dogs are obtained from such countries as Slovakia, Holland and Belgium.

Language Issues:
- A common language can help people understand each other better.
- Is there a difference between functional understanding, knowing what to do, such as sit, and understanding the message we are being given, we mustn’t move?

Comments:
- Another instance where globalisation requires a global language.
- This is not exactly a business story, but this is probably the first time a master had to learn his dog’s language.
- How practical is this in a business? In this case “the boss” had to learn “the employees” language for practical purposes. How much would the pride factor, if not the superiority complex, have influenced the situation had it been between people?

Bottom-Line:
Having a common language can get things done more efficiently.

Vrbl Comm C'crn

Vrbl Comm C'crn
Verbal Communication Concern

Country:
USA

Source:
Texting surge raises communication worries
NEW YORK, May 30 (UPI)
Copyright 2006 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Story:
There is concern that mobile phone texting will replace our verbal communication skills. This is believed to affect the younger generation even more. Verizon expects some 2.3 trillion messages will be sent worldwide in 2010.

Facts:
- 500 billion messages were sent in 2005 worldwide.
- Girls bond better than boys.

Language Issues:
- Texting or SMS, it can be argued, has evolved language to a more efficient means of communications. Having to write messages in 256 characters (at the beginning of the service) made people become creative with language.
- It seems that not only people can adapt to the channel of communication available to them, but also language itself; at least English. Some people can still remember the telegram service.

Comments:
- How much of this projected texting would be a waste of money and resources?
- Even if we allow for those messages that are a waste of time and money, that is still a lot of communication.
- What are the costs and profits of all this texting?

Bottom-Line:
How much can your business save by sending text messages to employees?

10 x 8 = probably dead

10 x 8 = probably dead

Country:
USA

Source:
The Killer Cure: ; A Deadly Dose; FDA-Approved Language Called "Extremely Dangerous"
By Scott Finn (sfinn@wvgazette.com ) andTara Tuckwiller (tara@wvgazette.com).
(c) 2006 Sunday Gazette
Published: 2006/06/06 00:00:20 CDT
Story from REDORBIT NEWS: http://www.redorbit.com/news/display/?id=528473
© RedOrbit 2005
© 2002-2005 redOrbit.com. All rights reserved All other copyrights remain the property of their respective owners

Story:
The language approved for methadone packaging, by the FDA, could be misinterpreted with serious or dire consequences. The wording is: "The usual adult dosage is 2.5 mg to 10 mg every three or four hours as necessary," reads the drug's package insert under "For Relief of Pain." This could be interpreted to mean that an adult can take up to 80 milligrams of methadone in 24 hours (a day). Most people taking this dosage would die, according to experts.

The FDA said they will consider the matter, but it is not a priority. More modern drugs have stronger language (black-box warning.)

Please read the article for the medical aspect of the story. The article itself is quite detailed and informative.

Facts:
- 50mg could kill someone not used to strong pain killers.
- 80mg would kill most people.
- The drug is cheap and an effective painkiller.
- Doctors who prescribe the drug also tell patients what dosage to take.

Language Issues:
- The message, as reported, is open to misinterpretation. The language is not precise, especially for such a product. It does not give time limits.
- The use of the word ‘usual’ is very ambiguous; usual to what standard? To the pain killer one takes for a headache?
- If ‘usual’ is ambiguous, the numbers, 2.5 and 10 as a range is also wide. Surely, words cannot have meaning outside a context.
- I have a theory, and although I have not had the opportunity to read it elsewhere I am sure it is not original, which says that in our Western society we depend more on the written word for information than verbal instructions. If this is the case, then the message on the packaging becomes even more important. What if one forgot/lost the instructions of the GP?
- A message can also be communicated with icons; maybe the pharmaceutical and health care industries can develop a labelling system for drugs on the same lines as the textile industry has.

Comments:
- The industry can have a free phone number or even a web site for people to consult if they have a doubt about the use of a particular drug.
- Would a reasonable patient misinterpret the message? Or is it impossible for a patient, who is suffering serious pain, to be reasonable, both in the legal and intellectual sense?

Bottom-Line:
Is drug packaging an ethical issue, a medical issue or a business issue?

Safety on building sites compromised

Safety on building sites compromised

Country:
Australia

Source:
Language barrier
By JOE HILDEBRAND
April 24, 2006
The Daily Telegraph
dailytelegraph.news.com.au
Copyright 2004 News Limited.

Story:
Some migrant workers in the building industry are compromising safety because they do not take compulsory training which are organised done in English. Moreover, their inability to communicate in English makes them venerable to exploitation.

Political groups want tougher English tests, but the relevant authorities say this is not necessary.

Facts:
- A Univ. of NSW study found that 30% migrant workers avoid compulsory safety training in English.
- In NSW alone, some 50 people die on construction sites.
- The article refers to some actual cases relating to safety issues.

Language Issues:
------Safety
- Does safety at work imply some kind of duty to learn a language?
- Is it a matter of introducing harder tests or an interest to learn the language in the first place? How do tests guarantee that someone understands complex language instructions? From experience working with learners of English, language tests give a false sense of ability; tests are not meant to guarantee understanding of real life language situations. I believe in language audits, the way one audits money, engineering standards and stock controls.
- Does a lack of interest in learning language skills reflect some kind of general attitude towards work in general and safety standards in particular?
- Is it the duty of the authorities to ensure that workers have the necessary language skills in order to understand safety instructions?
------Exploitation
- I suggest that this story is evidence that globalisation must be balanced by a global language. Globalisation is generating global knowledge and information which require a common code (i.e. language).
- Do these workers have at least a moral duty to learn English in order to find out about their work situation? In other words, are they being exploited or are they indifferent to their work conditions?

Comments:
- Is it the duty of the authorities, or employers, to ensure that workers have the necessary skills to meet safety duties?
- Does it mean that these workers also comprise quality and standards? Presumably, they would have difficulties communicating with English speaking site managers.
- If these workers could prove that they were exploited would they have a legal right for compensation in the future? At least in principle; I’m thinking of the artists in the music industry who were able to challenge their contracts which they signed when they were young and inexperienced.

Bottom-Line:
What would be the consequences if the quality and standards of buildings are also being compromised?

Hospital staff on dual call

Hospital staff on dual call

Country:
Canada

Source:
==Note: the url address I have no longer links to the story==
Hospital introduces language register
BY HEIDI ULRICHSEN heidi@northernlife.ca
Apr 18 Monday, April 17, 2006 12:47
Greater Sudbury News © 2005 Laurentian Publishing Ltd.
http://www.northernlife.ca/

Story:
Three hospital sites have introduced a register of employees who can speak a second language. A regional official believes that staff would be prepared to stop what they are doing to help patients with language needs.

Facts:
- 100 employees can speak 15 different languages.
- 3 hospital complex site

Language Issues:
- Are hospital staff employed as medical professionals or linguists?

Comments:
- Shouldn’t the hospital introduce a more formal, but professional way of dealing with the problem?
- What happens if no one can help or drop what they are doing?

Bottom-Line:
Is it right for employers to use skills employees have but are not being remunerated for?

Language is something you use

Language is something you use

Country:
Vietnam

Source:
Foreign language bachelors; "deaf mutes"
Copyright of VietNamNet Bridge
19/05/2006 (GMT+7)

Story:
University graduate in English discovers that she does not have the necessary language skills to apply for a job requiring English. Moreover, employers find it difficult to find people with the right language skills.

Facts:
- A diploma takes a student four years to complete without ever meeting a foreign lecturer.
- An experienced interpreter costs about $70 per hour.
- A new language graduate earns between $200 -$300 per month.

Language Issues:
- In my opinion it is a mistake to think that language is like any other academic subject. We usually need a language to communicate with and not to know about. Knowing about language is the domain of linguistics, psychology and even philosophy of language, but this has nothing to do with knowing a foreign language as job qualification.
- Knowing about something does not mean that one knows how to use it.
- There is more to language skills in business than just grammar, whatever grammar means.

Comments:
- From my experience, most employers, i.e. human resources personnel and business managers, have no idea how to judge language skills in prospective employees. Usually because they, themselves, do not speak the language they are selecting for.
- A lot of time and money is wasted by companies on language training and language use by employees. Language is not a high priority in companies despite the lip service they pay to the subject. At the very least, management intentions are not always reflected in the application of company policies.
- Certificates and exams do not reflect the real communication skills of someone when using a foreign language.
- I have had students with MBA degrees who couldn’t even prepare a six slide presentation in English. And their MBA had a high English language content!

Bottom-Line:
My advice to my executive language students is this: English (language) is not something you know about, but something you do. If you cannot use it, you don’t know anything.

Shop signs: a language issue?

Shop signs: a language issue?

Country:
USA

Source:
Can you read the signs? Language issues resurface
By Teresa Watanabe
Los Angeles Times
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company

Story:
A proposal in a city in California requiring business signs to be in English has led to disagreements in the political-business community. Federal law, it seems, allows the use of English-only rules in matters of safety or efficiency in running the business.

Some local people are concerned that businesses who have signs only in other languages, such as Spanish or Vietnamese, are contrary to public safety. Other business owners are against the authorities telling them how to run their business or what language to write their signs in. Some business owners point out that unless they can communicate in Spanish, for example, they won’t have any customers.

Facts:
- Federal law allows English-only rules for safety reasons or efficient running of a business.
- Employers cannot discriminate against someone for their accent unless it interferes with job performance.
- Hawthorne City has a population of 88,000.
- With about 5,000 plus businesses in this city, only a handful of them display foreign only language signs.

Language Issues:
- It makes sense for a business to communicate in the language of the customer. This does not tell us whether a business also has a duty to communicate in a language which a reasonable customer, in a legal sense maybe, is expected to know.
- Who decides what safety issues are involved regarding the use of a language in business? What are the criteria?
- Who decides what is efficient when running a business?
- Language in business, and especially in a multi-cultural setting, should not be an “either or” issue, either Spanish or English, but both English and Spanish or what ever language.
- A reasonable shopper would expect to communicate in a language he or she understands. It is surprising if a shop does not make some effort to also communicate in English in an English speaking country. Of course, there are exceptions, maybe professional services, but I don’t think this includes retail outlets.

Comments:
- The fact that language is becoming a political issue suggests that language is going through a transition phase. Languages are no longer the exclusive domain of nationalism and culture, languages are now moving into the domain of global communication, global business and personal freedoms and independence.
- Is the language issue a communications issue or a political issue? If it is a political issue then there is a good chance of going down the slippery slope of discrimination and prejudice.
- Do customers have a duty to make an effort to communicate in the language of their business suppliers?
- Is a shop sign a matter of free speech or a matter of efficient communication with prospective customers?

Bottom Line:
What business can afford to exclude themselves from a large part of their potential customer base?

The cost of language in a murder trial.

The cost of language in a murder trial.

Country:
USA

Source:
Language of justice costly in murder trial
By RIC ROUTLEDGE
Article published Apr 9, 2006
Copyright ©2006 The Star Press.


Story:
The cost of interpreters at a murder trial of two illegal immigrants was $39,813.02. This represented 40% of the total costs of the trial. The two certified Spanish interpreters worked in 30 minute shifts. The proceedings had to stop when the defendant removed the headphones for a rest.

Facts:
- The costs are not over because the case is scheduled for sentencing and appeal hearings.
- These sums could represent a serious cost to a small county; Black Ford County.


Language Issues:
- Language seems to be an important conduit between the democratic principle of the rule of law and the private citizen.

Comments:
- Justice must not only be seen to be done, but must also be understood when it is being done.

Bottom-Line:
What are the cost limits of a democracy?

Foreign pilots in India have language problems

Foreign pilots in India have language problems

Country:
India

Source:
Foreign pilots facing language trouble
Sandeep Phukan
© 2004 NDTV.

Monday, March 20, 2006 (New Delhi):


Story:
With the rapid expansion of the aviation industry in India, local airlines have to rely on pilots from non English speaking countries. This can create, and does create, communication problems especially with air traffic controllers.

The CEO of an Indian airline said that two planes collided on the runway because of a language error.

Facts:
- 200 foreign pilots have been employed by Indian domestic airlines.
- IATA only has language guidelines, language standardisation will be introduced in 2008.
- DGCA is randomly checking flight data recorders to find out what goes on in the cockpit.

Language Issues:
- Language has a direct causal effect on safety.
- Could it be that in critical situations any level of foreign language skills are not enough or not as good as a native speaker’s language skills?
- Can language be standardised?
- A standardised language system must still test for the candidate’s ability to express ideas and not necessarily for the accuracy of syntax (i.e. grammar structure.). Syntax alone does not guarantee accuracy of message, it is the easiest to text and formulate.

Comments:
- What are the costs of introducing a system that genuinely tests for language skills?
- What would the Public Relations cost be for the Indian domestic airline industry should there be a serious air accidents involving international passengers?
- Why isn’t India producing more home trained pilots?
- How many similar language critical jobs exist in the modern world?

Bottom-Line:
Should language become a reportable factor in safety incidents? What would be the extra insurance and training costs?

Internet network solves multi language needs for hospital.

Internet network solves multi language needs for hospital.

Country:

California, USA

Source:

San Mateo Medical Center aims to lower language barriers

by Laura Cutland

Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal - February 13, 2006

Story:

San Mateo Medical Center have introduced an internet based system to bring together medical interpreters to its hospitals and clinics. This technology now enables medical translators and interpreters to offer their expertise where and when they are need since they don’t have to be physically present when the patient is with a medical staff. In a way, the network is an internet based video conferencing system, where the language expert help doctor and patient communicate with each oter.

The county hospital estimates that 35 percent of its patients are not English proficient.

Facts:

- Phone based professional interpreters cost $4 a minute and do not include the visual element.

- In the past it took between 30 minutes to an hour and a half to find a medical interpreter, now it takes less than two minutes.

- The new service now costs 75 cents per minute, with an expected savings of $100,000 p.a from the interpreter budget.

- The combined investment, from charity funds, was $1m.

- According to the CEO, the return on investment is safety and quality.

Language-Issues:

- Is IT an opportunity to solve multi-language communication difficulties?

- How does this absence of a common language affect the doctor-patient relationship?

- Isn't the language factor reducing health care into and even more mechanical activity?

- Although, the medical staff can communicate with non-English speakers, how are they taking into account the cultural factor in their consultations?

- How does this system cope with such needs as psychological treatment, psychiatric treatment, depression or other mental type problems when communication needs to be more than a description of a physical symptoms?

Comments:

- Would a similar solution work in other environments? For example, retail, law or within international companies?

- In a way, this language identity, together with cultural identity, is separating where we live from how we live. Identity is no longer linked to the land, but to some metaphysical entity we might call language/culture identity.

- What are the socio-political repercussions of this separation of identity?

- How is this identity issue affecting foreign policies and international relationships for governments?

Bottom-Line:

Is it feasible, and what are the investment costs, for a government to introduce a similar multi-language network system, state wide, NHS wide and country wide?

A good soccer defender in any language

A good soccer defender in any language

Country:
Spain

Source:
Woodgate shows his true worth in any language
By Peter Jenson
© The Times February 18, 2006


Jonathan Woodgate's £13.4m transfer to Real Madrid has been greeted with amazement - a genuine move out of the blue.
By Alan Hansen
Story from BBC SPORT:
Published: 2004/08/20 15:05:11 GMT
© BBC MMVI

Story:
Real Madrid defender, Jonathan Woodgate, is reported as saying that he has problems reading dossiers in Spanish given by his Spanish coach. Although the defender is trying to learn Spanish, he still needs help with any documentation.

The player is considered as one of the best in the game on the pitch.

Facts:
-The player’s transfer to the Madrid team cost £13.4m.
- Real Madrid is considered an international club with a number of overseas players.

Language Issues:
- Are there certain professional activities where language is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition?
- Shouldn’t an international company (club) that employs international players have a standard international language? Is this possible?
- Does a lack of skills in languages, in an international setting, reduce one’s professional effectiveness?
- Are there language depended professions and language independent professions?

Comments:
- How serious is this lack of direct communication between players and coach? Is there an impact factor on the team’s performance?
- How realistic is it to expect people to learn the language of the country they work in, especially if they move from country to country in pursuit of their career?

Bottom-Line:
Is there an impact to clubs if players can or cannot speak the language of their home base? Can this impact be modelled and financially estimated?