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Interpreting and Indigenous Languages

Interpreting and Indigenous Languages. In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages , based on a recommendation by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Why indigenous languages?

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Interpreting and Indigenous Languages

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  1. Interpreting and Indigenous Languages

  2. In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, based on a recommendation by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Why indigenous languages? In 2016, 40% of the estimated 6,700 languages spoken around the world were in danger of disappearing. Most of these are indigenous languages, which puts the cultures and knowledge systems to which they belong at risk.

  3. What is an indigenous language? A language that is native to the region and spoken by the indigenous people (original inhabitants) in the area. Has been reduced to the status of a minority language. May not be recognized as a national language and may have fallen out of use due to language death.

  4. Statistics • United States • Native American population—2.09% • 150 out of 350 languages left. • Spoken by 350,000. • Mexico • 6 million indigenous speakers out of 127 millions: 4.6% • General Law of Linguistic Rights of Indigenous Peoples

  5. Statistics • South America • One of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. • ~ 350 living languages. • The majority of them are endangered. • Guatemala = 42.8% indigenous speakers • Peru = 35% indigenous speakers • Ecuador = 9.4% indigenous speakers • Panama = 8.3% indigenous speakers • Bolivia = 35% indigenous speakers

  6. Most spoken indigenous languages in the US

  7. Most spoken indigenous languages in South America • Quechua • Considered an official language in Bolivia but not regulated. • The Popular Participation Law (1994). • Quechua’s Language Rights • Aymara • ~2.2 million speakers spread across Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. • Aymara’s Language Rights.

  8. Most spoken indigenous languages in South America • Guarani • An official language since 1992; spoken by approximately 90% of the population. • Guarani’s Language Rights in 1992.

  9. The role of Indigenous Languages (IL) interpreters • To provide quality language services to indigenous peoples who do not speak the official or principal language(s) of the region in which they live. • For these individuals, a lack of professional interpretation services can be devastating, even deadly.

  10. Issues • Shortage of professional IL interpreters. • IL interpreters are perceived as different or even as belonging to a “not-so-important” language.

  11. Cases • In San Diego, a Q’anjob’al speaker had her asylum hearing pushed back for more than a year because no interpreters were available. • A man whose primary language is Mam was unable to explain that his family had been killed in his Guatemalan town, which could be a basis for asylum, his lawyer said. • In the case of one man accused of a misdemeanor battery, the court interpreter, who was speaking in Ixil, did not ask him if he was competent to stand trial, as the judge instructed, but instead told him to “pray to God,” according to a complaint filed in Wisconsin state court. • In California, a child, a native speaker of Mixtec, did not receive the correct treatment for a blocked airway and died. It is very possible language barriers played a role in the child’s death.

  12. Language Actions • The Australian Government has expanded its use and availability of Indigenous interpreters. This included on-demand interpreting services in 8 commonly spoken Northern and Central Australian Aboriginal languages. (March 2018) • A court in northern Peru issued the first ruling written entirely in Quechua. (July 2019) • The Cherokee Nation has announced the largest language investment in the tribe’s history: the Durbin Feeling Cherokee Language Preservation Act would provide $16 million for language preservation. (September 2019)

  13. Language Actions • Organizations and initiatives all around the world in an attempt to provide language services to native speakers of indigenous languages. • Indigenous Interpreting+ • Mixteco Interpreter Services (MIS).

  14. References • Websites: • International Year of Indigenous Languages • World Population Review • Worldometers • Ethnologue: Languages of the World • Native Languages of the Americas: Preserving and promoting American Indian languages • Articles: • Peruvian court rules in language of the Incas • Cherokee Nation announces million investment in native language preservation • Immigration Courts Overwhelmed by Indigenous Languages • Speaking your language: Indigenous interpreters boost access to services

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