Translation Toolkit Foreign Language Guide

he purpose of this section is to help you identify Tthe appropriate language(s) to translate your written materials into, so that you can communicate most effectively with people who prefer languages other than English.

This document provides information on the top six languages spoken in MA, and is a general reference. Therefore, it cannot adequately characterize any population and the differences within it. Please use it in combination with other data specific to the group or population you are trying to reach.

For a step-by-step guide on the overall translation process, see the document entitled “Translation Toolkit.”

Office of Public Health Strategy and Communications Revised October 2010 Translation Toolkit : Foreign Language Guide | 4 Spanish Portuguese Russian Chinese Haitian Creole Cape Verdean Vietnamese Arabic American Sign Language Albanian Spanish Portuguese Chinese French Creole French Italian Vietnamese Russian Greek Khmer Spanish Portuguese Chinese Haitian Creole Vietnamese Khmer Cape Verdean Russian Arabic Korean Interpreter Services in MA Acute Care Hospitals Hospitals Services in MA Acute Care Interpreter at provided services documenting the interpreter A DPH report 2007. Hospital Fiscal Year 72 MA hospitals during the Federal that lack good indicators of populations services data are interpreter access services. and need language English proficiency sufficient likely to have a need for written translations These populations are , of health information. Go to: www.mass.gov/dph/healthequity Services in Services,” then click on “Interpreter click on “Interpreter ten languages are: Hospitals.” Top Massachusetts Acute Care Modern Language Association Language Map Data Center Maps and tables based on the 2000 US Census and 2005 American Go to: www.mla.org/map_data&dcwindow=same Community Survey. ten languages in MA are: menus. Top the drop-down and choose from First Language is Not English (FLNE) Report Report (FLNE) English is Not Language First not their first whom English is students for on public school Information Go to: (LEP). Proficiency have Limited English and those who language on “Data and Statistics.” and click www.mass.gov/dph/healthequity are: ten languages Top Resources Translation Toolkit : Foreign Language Guide | 5 Cantonese Cambodian Spanish Portuguese and except English, Spanish, of all languages Other (aggregate Portuguese) Haitian Creole Mandarin Vietnamese Arabic Russian English Surveillance and Program-Specific Data Surveillance and Program-Specific with a disease-specific focus may use surveillance, Programs and hospital discharge data to identify patient enrollment, demographics. Refugee Resettlement Program admitted to the are selected countries and regions Refugees from has arrival Health Program The Refugee and Immigrant US yearly. or city the regional at data can be provided information. Upon request, , click on level. Go to www.mass.gov/dph/cdc/rhip/wwwrihp.htm and then “Refugee and Immigrant Health Program.” “Programs” (REL) Data Collection Race, Ethnicity and Language for the collection of race, ethnicity, DPH has adopted regulations hospitals in Massachusetts to and language information, requiring fully describe to more in order submit detailed data on all patients effectively to assess health disparities and more them. The goals are community based health centers and Gradually, target programs. REL collection tool, which adapting the proposed are DPH programs eventually will enable us to identify specific languages and detailed we serve. for the populations ethnicity backgrounds The Massachusetts Community Health Information Profile (MassCHIP) indicators, as well as online access to MA health and social Free, Community-level sources. a variety of demographic information from . available. Go to http://masschip.state.ma.us/default.asp data are Birth Registry Birth asked the language they are in a MA hospital, give birth When mothers materials. Contact or discuss health-related to read they prefer in which more for Statistics at 617-740-2620 and of Vitalthe Registry Records were: the top ten languages of 2006-2008 For the period information. Resources Translation Toolkit : Foreign Language Guide | 6

5 who account for the majority of the Therefore, we should use plain language when we should Therefore, 4 Spanish-speaking population statewide. Dominicans and Puerto Ricans, 2003 State Assessment of Adult Literacy and 2003 National Assessment of Adult Literacy. five years 7% of Massachusetts residents to the 2005 American Community Survey, According and older speak Spanish. writing all of our materials, especially if they are going to be translated. writing all of our materials, especially if they are Spanish Speakers in Massachusetts Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in our state. 5 4 Spanish Spanish, Regional Variations, Spanish: Neutral Written and Spanglish public health messages for an English-speaking When developing speech, and to favor informal language, everyday audience, we tend The best way This poses a challenge to translators. even colloquialisms. slang, idiomatic is to avoid regionalisms, uniformity in Spanish to ensure and most of the techniques we favor when writing our expressions, English language materials. word standard to use a less it is preferable of clarity, In the interest cases even Spanglish, than it is to in a translation, or in extreme of the message due to understanding risk hindering our audience’s variations. the literacy level or using regional increasing or developing Spanish language When buying translation services, all translations However, requested. materials, “US Spanish” should be different by native Spanish speakers from should undergo a review medium-size and large translation countries. For those working with Translation agencies translators. firms, ask specifically for US-based the increasing therefore their services abroad, tend to outsource flavor. may have lots of regional chances that your Spanish translation and Education Level Regional Variations to main barrier that our target audience’s recognize should We literacy itself, not regional understanding our messages is actually choice. In MA, 46% of Hispanic adults have a literacy variations or word level below basic. Speakers come from a variety of countries, educational backgrounds, and educational backgrounds, a variety of countries, Speakers come from census collects Hispanic or of acculturation. The have varying degrees Latino race in four categories: Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and other. to find out the geographic may consult the U.S. Census Bureau You information other However, MA. in race Latino or Hispanic of distribution the following: are suggests that the primary Spanish-speaking groups Español Background of The Royal Academy the Spanish Language maintain has worked to of the the uniformity language, at least in its formal written form, by deciding what constitutes Spanish. “standard” With than 20 more countries using Spanish as their primary language, having uniform, mutually understandable writing add is challenging. To consider complexity, that in these countries language has evolved independently for more than five hundred years. It is no surprise, then, that what might be standard, everyday Spanish in one country may not have equal meaning in another. or affect Translation Toolkit : Foreign Language Guide | 7 It is worth mentioning that the population of It is worth mentioning that the population represented primarily by Salvadorans, primarily by Salvadorans, represented primarily Colombians but also Venezuelans, but also Venezuelans, primarily Colombians Central Americans, Guatemalans, Hondurans, and Costa Ricans. Guatemalans, Hondurans, South Americans, Peruvians, and Ecuadorians. Indigenous groups. indigenous groups from Central and South American countries Central and South American from indigenous groups years. The steadily in recent MA has been growing in residing and and Taunton) New Bedford, Brockton, Southeastern (Fall River, to these groups. said to be home are Northeastern regions (Milford) and Quechua, speakers of Quiche that these are is indication There in Spanish. and that they may not be proficient Geographic Distribution in Massachusetts to MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education According the highest number of Spanish- data, the 10 school districts with during the 2008-2009 school year speaking students in public schools Springfield, Worcester, Boston, Lawrence, were (in descending order) and Revere. Holyoke, Lowell, New Bedford, Chelsea, Lynn, Spanish Español Translation Toolkit : Foreign Language Guide | 8

2 ). 3 speakers (Portugal, Azores, and Madeira) speakers (Portugal, Azores, speak a Creole dialect, but the official language of dialect, but the official speak a Creole account for the majority of recent arrivals and tend to be account for the majority of recent European Portuguese European younger adults (46% ages 20-34; 24% ages 35-44 younger adults (46% ages 20-34; the country is Portuguese. Individuals who are literate will most likely the country is Portuguese. Individuals who are speak Portuguese. For those who did not attend school in Cape be as was often the case with women, Portuguese may not Verde, often as a meaningful means of communication. Due to reporting in MA might be undercounted. “Portuguese,” Cape Verdeans belong to a previous migration period, with its majority of Portuguese- belong to a previous senior citizens. Having been only speakers now older adults and Portuguese speakers are European established in the state longer, to be acculturated and to have US-born likely adult children. more Cape Verdeans Brazilians U.S. Census Bureau, 2000. U.S. Census Bureau, Adapted from Modern Portuguese, a Reference Grammar. Mário A. Perini, Yale University Press, University Press, Mário A. Perini, Yale Modern Grammar. Adapted from Portuguese, a Reference years five 3.54% of Massachusetts residents to the 2005 American Community Survey, According Geographic Distribution in Massachusetts and Secondary Education to MA Department of Elementary According data, the 10 school districts with the highest number of Portuguese- 2002. English and Spanish make up the first to the same source, and older speak Portuguese. According and second most commonly spoken languages, respectively. 3 1 2 Portuguese vs. European Portuguese: Brazilian Written one or both variations or translating materials in Rather than developing and should study the target population programs of the language, should always variety of Portuguese to use. Materials decide the base native speakers—preferably that includes process undergo a review appropriate ensure Portuguese-speaking countries—to different from is developing materials targeted for usage. For example, if a program to translate into age statewide, it is preferable women of reproductive immigrants tend to be younger Brazilian Portuguese, because Brazilian is not common to other Portuguese- in age. Particular vocabulary that or by either adding a second word speaking countries can be corrected the Brazilian term with alternative or phrases that reflect words replacing type of Portuguese. universal a more Portuguese Speakers in Massachusetts most commonly spoken language in our state. Portuguese is the third Speakers can be grouped in three broad categories. broad in three Speakers can be grouped 1 Português Background Background spoken Portuguese is in Portugal (including Azores, the islands of Porto Madeira and Santo), Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea- Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Cape and East Timor, Verde, Macau. In that vast the standard area, written language is very uniform, with small in spelling differences and grammatical Educated structure. Portuguese speakers usually have no understanding difficulty writing each other’s (except when regional vocabulary is used). As for the spoken language, differences significant. more are Translation Toolkit : Foreign Language Guide | 9 Somerville, Medford, Everett, Malden, Chelsea, and East Boston. Malden, Chelsea, and Everett, Somerville, Medford, Framingham, and Milford. – Marlborough, West Metro Cape Cod, and The Islands – Barnstable, Yarmouth, South Shore, and Nantucket. Vineyard, Martha’s Boston and the North Shore – comprising principally Allston/Brighton, Boston and the North Shore European Portuguese are concentrated mainly in the Cambridge, Fall concentrated mainly in the Portuguese are European areas. and New Bedford River, Roxbury, (Dorchester, concentrated in the Boston area are Cape Verdeans and an onset in Somerville/Cambridge), Mattapan, and Randolph Quincy, Cod. and Cape New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Brockton, Portuguese school in public schools during the 2008-2009 speaking students Framingham, New Bedford, River, Fall were order) year (in descending and Malden. Lowell, Boston, Milford, Somerville, Marlborough, Everett, concentrated in three Brazilians are to the 2000 census, According major areas: Português Translation Toolkit : Foreign Language Guide | 10 6 Most of the information on this sheet was provided by Cetra, Inc. Most of the information on this sheet was provided 6 Chinese Vs. Simplified Chinese: Traditional Written is that spoken thing about Chinese translation The most confusing with writing systems. directly do not correspond Chinese dialects systems in use today: Traditional two main Chinese writing are There was in common useTraditional script Chinese. The Chinese and Simplified in the Chinese-speaking world until the 1950s, and is still used everywhere places outside mainland China. Hong Kong, and many other in Taiwan, Republic writing system of the People’s Simplified Chinese is the official by the government in the mid-1950s as of China. It was introduced government In 1956 the Chinese literacy. to increase part of an effort , and over published the Scheme for Simplifying Chinese Characters result was that over The was refined. the next two decades the system made less complicated. were 2,000 commonly used characters Chinese or Simplified Choosing Traditional and used in mainland China, Singapore, Simplified characters are used in Hong Kong, are Chinese characters Malaysia. Traditional Chinese communities. This Macau and in most overseas Taiwan, Canton, China and a Cantonese from means that a Cantonese speaker might be able to understand each other Taiwan Taipei, speaker from not be able to communicate in in a spoken conversation, but would people who grew system. Often writing because each uses a different out (with varying levels of difficulty) Chinese can figure up with Traditional who learnedSimplified characters, but people as a child will Simplified Chinese without some study. not understand Traditional different of speakers by used be can systems writing the Although based characters can differ choices and the meanings of dialects, word will be used, you may your translation on the dialect. Depending on where Chinese-speaking audiences need to adapt your document. Different as language variations continue to develop vocabularies, have different local demographics, brand currencies, over time. Units of measurement, governmental must be taken into account. structures names, and different Chinese in Massachusetts As is the case with most overseas Chinese communities, the characters. writing system uses Traditional predominant 中文 Background nine main are There in groups dialect Chinese, spoken Mandarin which of are Cantonese and of Most biggest. the not are dialects these understood; mutually a Cantonese speaker and a Hakka speaker necessarily not will another one understand the is Mandarin easily. language spoken official Republic People’s the of taught is it – China of strongly and schools in the by encouraged Chinese government. educated Most speak Chinese mainland those even Mandarin, is tongue native whose dialect. a different Translation Toolkit : Foreign Language Guide | 11 Chinese the most FLNE Report, Cantonese was to the 2005-2006 According schools. Mandarin dialect of Chinese in MA public commonly spoken dialect, followed by the encountered most frequently was the second Shanghai dialects. Fukien, and Taiwan, was data, between 1999 and 2005 Mandarin to Birth Registry According than Massachusetts in birth giving mothers by spoken commonly more This information may suggestCantonese or any other Chinese dialect. dialect in the Commonwealth. that Mandarin is the emerging Chinese not available. writing systems are Data on preferred Geographic Distribution in Massachusetts to MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, According number of Chinese- aggregate the 10 school districts with the highest during the 2008-2009 school year speaking students in public schools Malden, Lexington, Newton, Boston, Quincy, were (in descending order) Acton, and Shrewsbury. Westford, Winchester, Brookline, 中文 Translation Toolkit : Foreign Language Guide | 12 8 7 Most information on this sheet comes from “The Haitians, Their History and Culture,” by Michele “The Haitians, Their History and Culture,” Most information on this sheet comes from Accessed June 2, 2010. http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/haiti_statistics.html#67. Burtoff Civan, Refugee Service Center, Center for Applied Linguistics (1994). Civan, Refugee Service Center, Burtoff 8 7 The low literacy rates combined with several other factors – such as The low literacy rates combined with as of 1978 – has at in schools of Haitian Creole the formal introduction among Haitians. While in conflicting language preference times resulted is popular for oral communication, its written form may the use of Creole or for people educated in French, not be meaningful for those formally contact with written Creole. who do not have regular Documents into Haitian Creole Written Choosing to Translate or French in 2007 found that by the MDPH sponsored A series of focus groups their written to receive prefer Boston area Haitians in the Metropolitan further groups The focus not French. health information in Creole, that whenever possible, bilingual formats should be used. The reported or and French should be Creole language pairs for bilingual documents English. and Creole Video and audio formats have shown to be successful media to the Haitian population. communicate health information to Geographic Distribution in Massachusetts and Secondary Education, to MA Department of Elementary According number of Haitian the 10 school districts with the highest aggregate during the 2008-2009 students in public schools Creole-speaking Randolph, Boston, Brockton, were school year (in descending order) Lynn. and Waltham, Malden, Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Everett, Haitian Creole Haitian Literacy in 1978. One major change was reformed education system Haiti’s in the first as the language of instruction Creole was the use of Haitian to According taught in French. then, all grades were four grades. Until was than 60% of the adult population in Haiti, more the 1982 census show a 62% adult literacy rate. data (2003-2008) recent illiterate. More Kreyòl Ayisyen Kreyòl Background Background is Massachusetts home to thousands two of Haitians. The languages official French of Haiti are and Haitian Creole. All Haitians speak while Haitian Creole, only a small portion of the population can fully be considered bilingual in French and Haitian Creole. the two Traditionally, languages served functions, with different being Haitian Creole the informal, everyday language of all the people, regardless of social class, and the being French language of formal situations: schools, newspapers, the law and the courts, etc. Translation Toolkit : Foreign Language Guide | 13 10 possible, the translation must be reviewed by more than one person. by more possible, the translation must be reviewed Vietnamese script uses the Latin alphabet with an extensive and over and below vowels. Therefore, complex combination of diacriticals PDFs of your display it. Always have readily most computers won’t you with the fonts they to provide final documents and ask translators completed using the UNICODE used. Also, ask to have the document font type. Video and audio formats have shown to be successful media to communicate health information to the Vietnamese population. Similar to other immigrant groups, there is a difference between is a difference there Similar to other immigrant groups, how language is used in Vietnam and how it is used by Vietnamese or immigrants in the US. Vietnamese literacy levels between refugees that of the newly from be different early settlement immigrants may that your audience is Vietnamesearrived. Make clear to the company terms should in the US and, as such, neutral, standard living readers Make a US-based translator. be used. Whenever possible, request simple explanatory terms and not high level terminology. to use sure When end-users. by or internally reviewed translations your have Always Some translation companies send their translation jobs abroad. their translation jobs abroad. Some translation companies send http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnamese_language. Accessed June 3, 2010. Geographic Distribution in Massachusetts and Secondary Education, to MA Department of Elementary According number of the 10 school districts with the highest aggregate Vietnamese-speaking in public schools during the 2008-2009 students Quincy, Boston, Worcester, were school year (in descending order) Lynn, and Lawrence. Lowell, Randolph, Malden, Springfield, Everett, 10 Translating Written Documents into Vietnamese Written Translating into Vietnamese: a few things to consider when translating are Here Vietnamese Language Variation regions: dialect Vietnamese traditionally been divided into three has mostly in their differ South. These dialect regions North, Central, and non- vocabulary, but also in vocabulary (including basic sound systems, and grammar. and grammatical words) basic vocabulary, Tiếng Việt Tiếng Background Background have Vietnamese The Massachusetts in been Different decades. for refugees of waves the in settled during Commonwealth the ‘70s, ‘80s and early recently, more and, ‘90s, a As immigrants. as the Vietnameseresult, is MA in community of terms in diverse educational age, degree background, of acculturation, etc. Translation Toolkit : Foreign Language Guide | 14 Other sources cite much lower rates. Adult literacy rates for lower rates. Adult literacy rates for cite much Other sources 9 age groups. Academic language is often more difficult to understand difficult Academic language is often more age groups. used in the community. than lay terms or the everyday language audience is clearly defined to the the target make sure Therefore, including age group. translator, When end-users. by or internally reviewed translations your have Always than one person. by more possible, the translation must be reviewed and most computers won’t Khmer script (abugida) is complex it. Always have PDFs of your final documents and ask display readily you with the fonts they used. Also, ask to have translators to provide the document completed using the UNICODE font type. Video shown to be successful media to and audio formats have communicate health information to the Cambodian population. However, there are differences between how language is used in differences are there However, Cambodian immigrants in the US. Cambodia and how it is used by or early settlement immigrants is different Literacy between refugees a whenever possible, request of the newly arrived. Therefore, that from to use simple explanatory terms and Make sure US-based translator. not high level terminology in how language is used by different significant differences are There Some translation companies send their translation jobs abroad. their translation jobs abroad. Some translation companies send https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cb.html. Accessed on https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cb.html. Geographic Distribution in Massachusetts and Secondary Education, to MA Department of Elementary According number of Khmer- the 10 school districts with the highest aggregate year speaking students in public schools during the 2008-2009 school Revere, Lawrence, Fall River, Lowell, Lynn, were (in descending order) Boston, Chelsea, and Easthampton. Worcester, Attleboro, males are considerably higher than those for females. One of the most than those for females. One considerably higher males are have remained literacy in Cambodia is that rates alarming facts about years. unchanged for many Documents into Khmer Written Translating into Khmer: a few things to consider when translating are Here 04/26/2010. 9 Khmer / Cambodian / Khmer Literacy is the literacy rate in Cambodia Factbook to the CIA World According 73.6%. Exµr Background Background Lowell of city The to home is alone 25,000 than more Lowell,Cambodians. has Massachusetts largest second the Cambodian population Many US. the in the to immigrated late the during region 1980s 1970s/early fleeing resettlements, persecution political from and genocide.