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In The News

Language Line Services Reveals Latest Trends in Emerging Languages

Leader in telephone interpretation adds record numbers of language interpreters to serve new populations

Monterey, CA – February 25, 2009 – Language Line Services, the leading provider of over-the-phone and video interpretation services, reported significant increases in the need for several specific foreign languages over the past year.

Population changes have generated increased demand for interpreting languages such as Armenian, Karen and Nepali. The language with the largest growth rate nationally is Armenian, particularly in Southern California.

This surge in Armenian-speaking callers prompted the company to launch an aggressive recruitment campaign that ultimately increased its Armenian interpreter workforce by 238 percent. This move is expected to absorb continued language needs of this ethnic population and the businesses, health care, government, and social services agencies that serve it.

“We strive to provide all of our constituents with equal opportunity, regardless of race, national origin, sex, disability and other factors, including language,” said Sergeant Thomas Lorenz with the Glendale (California) Police Department. “Language Line Services allows us to serve our entire community, including those with limited-English proficiency, a population that is growing each day.”

Language Line Services provides immediate interpretation to nearly 90 percent of the nation’s 911 call centers, thousands of health care providers and government agencies, as well as more than 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies.

The firm is in a constant cycle of identifying and responding to demographic changes which result in the increased need to serve emerging languages speakers.

With over 25 years of historical language trend data and analysis, Language Line Services tracks surges in the demand for non-English languages within virtually every geographic area. As a result, the company is often the first to identify emerging communities of limited-English speaking individuals.

To accomplish this, Language Line Services uses a proprietary system – Language Line® LanguageTrak – to follow real-time demographic information on emerging language trends for more than 170 languages nationwide, as well as new languages as they come to light.

LanguageTrak, as a subscription service, is also available to banks, utilities, government agencies, hospitals, telecommunications, insurance, and other service providers who must know the latest changes in language needs of their communities to best serve them.

“The ever-changing variety of languages spoken in the U.S. is a reality which all organizations face on a daily basis,” said Louis Provenzano, Language Line Services President and COO. “Our expertise in accurate and timely information on emerging language needs allows our clients the opportunity to focus on their core strengths while better serving new and evolving communities.”

For example, Provenzano noted that in 2008, the demand for Armenian language support increased by nearly 81 percent for its customers based in Southern California. “By being prepared with the proper language resources, institutions that serve Los Angeles and the surrounding areas can confidently and seamlessly address the needs of new and existing customers.”

Other languages that have experienced a boom over the past year are Karen and Nepali.

Because of the rapid influx of Karen immigrants from Burma and Thailand – many of whom speak their own language and only occasionally speak Burmese or Thai – local resettlement agencies throughout the U.S. are struggling to find enough Karen interpreters to meet the needs of these new residents. .

Language Line Services has seen a 105 percent increase in requests for Karen language assistance in just the past year, particularly among its over-the-phone interpretation clients in Denver, upstate New York and Nashville, Tennessee. Because of this increased demand, the company has begun hiring new Karen interpreters with a goal of increasing its Karen interpreter base by 700 percent.

Language Line Services also noted surges among other emerging languages such as Language Line Services also noted surges among other emerging languages such as Assyrian, Burmese, Krio, Latvian, and Swahili (see table).

Editor’s note: A complete list of detailed language stats by geography is available upon request. The information above reflects the languages most requested by emergency services, government agencies, health care facilities and businesses.

About Language Line Services

Language Line Services, the global leader in telephone interpreting and language solutions, serves clients in government, health care, telecom, financial services, insurance and many other industries by quickly connecting them to their customers, patients and sales prospects in over 170 spoken languages and American sign language.

Growth of the language interpreting industry has soared with increased immigration and government regulatory policies mandating that organizations provide services to limited English speakers in their own languages.

Language Line Services is recognized as a trusted partner to thousands of clients throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, providing access to the industry's fastest language interpreting service at highly competitive rates.

For more information about Language Line Services' suite of telephone and video interpreting, document translation, interactive software-based translation, interpreter training and certification programs, please call +1 (800) 752-6096 or visit http://www.languageline.com.