Branding Image

Free Interpretation Service Now Available to Non-English Speakers Throughout the Midwest

Language Line Services and AT&T Connect Midwest Residents and Visitors With Local and National Businesses

CHICAGO--(October 17, 2007)--With one of the largest foreign-born populations in the United States, Chicago’s limited-English-speaking consumers will now find it easier than ever to communicate with businesses thanks to Your World. Your Language.SM, which launches in Chicago this week.

Language Line Services, the global leader of language interpretation, and AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) along with local Hispanic and Polish community leaders have announced this first, free over-the-phone interpretation service, which provides limited-English-speaking consumers access to vital business services in their preferred language. The service is now available to residents and businesses throughout the Midwest.

Your World. Your Language. easily connects limited-English-speaking consumers with businesses so that these consumers can independently conduct their day-to-day affairs. Created by Language Line Services and using a network operated by AT&T, this free over-the-phone interpretation service provides limited-English-speaking consumers with telephone-based interpreters to access banking, insurance, telephone, and other vital business services within a consumer’s local metro area.

The Midwest region was selected as one of the first launch areas for Your World. Your Language. because of its increasingly diverse ethnic population. Chicago is a true melting pot of ethnicities with the second-largest Mexican population in the United States after Los Angeles and the largest Polish population out of any U.S. city. In addition to its cultural and linguistic diversity, Chicago’s friendly business community and vibrant commerce and manufacturing economy make it an increasingly popular place for immigrants to live.

Louis Provenzano, Language Line Services’ president and chief operating officer, noted that most of the limited-English-speaking residents who live in Chicago reside in tight knit multilingual communities with niche economies, in which only limited English is needed. As a result, they have difficulty conducting business outside their neighborhoods and accessing vital community services without the assistance of English-speaking friends and family members.

“Applying for business financing can be challenging even for an English-speaking entrepreneur who has opened numerous small businesses, so it’s easy to see how this process could be intimidating for a new Polish immigrant hoping to capitalize on the American dream of business ownership,” said Provenzano. “Until now, if a limited-English-speaking entrepreneur wanted to conduct the loan process in-language their options were very limited, but with Your World. Your Language., a whole new era of communication has arrived.”

By dialing 1-888-855-0811 and 1-877-TU-LINEA (885-4632) for Spanish-speaking consumers, Chicago’s growing population of multilingual residents, foreign business travelers and visitors can speak in their own languages to a host of key commercial, retail and entertainment businesses anytime and at no charge. Callers dial in to an easy-to-navigate menu that first prompts them to select their preferred language and then a particular business category to call. A specially trained Language Line Services interpreter then joins the line, connects the caller to the selected business and remains on the line to carry out communication between the consumer and the business’s English-speaking customer representative.

“Limited-English speaking residents in Chicago and throughout the Midwest will find that Your World. Your Language. is a new way to get things done quickly, easily and independently,” said Steve Mitchell, vice president and general manager for AT&T Illinois. “AT&T and Language Line Services are committed to ensuring a seamless communication process for our customers, and Your World. Your Language. now makes this possible for everyone, despite what languages they speak.”

Your World. Your Language. currently serves customers in nine languages, including: Cantonese (Chinese), Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Chinese), Polish, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Originally launched in San Francisco, the telephone-based interpretation service is now available in California and the Midwest, and will roll out in cities nationwide throughout 2008.

Your World. Your Language. is free for consumers.

Businesses that join the WorldPartnerSM network to sell their products and services through Your World. Your Language. are charged on a per-call basis and pay only for calls placed through the service to their customer representatives.

Sample banking, credit card, insurance, health, telephone, utility, travel, transportation, city and social service organizations signed on to offer their services to limited-English-speaking residents through Your World. Your Language. include: 1-800-Dentist; AT&T Allstate Insurance; CitiBank; City of Chicago city services; DISH Network; Greyline Tours; Macy's; Orbitz; State Farm Insurance; SuperShuttle; Ticketmaster and YellowCab.

For more information or a complete listing of Your World. Your Language. business partners, visit www.YourWorldYourLanguage.com .

GROWING LANGUAGE-SUPPORT NEEDS


15 – Percent of the total U.S. buying power owned by the Hispanic and Asian populations
176 – Total number of languages spoken in the U.S.
5th - Chicago’s ranking among U.S. cities with the largest foreign-born population (U.S. Census)
35.5 – Percent of Chicago residents who speak a language other than English at home; 67 percent of those speak Spanish (U.S. Census)
7.53 – Percent of Chicago residents that are of Polish decent (2003 U.S. Census estimate)

XXX

Next Steps

More News:


Current

Language Line Services Awarded Interpretation Services Contract by United States Department of Homeland Security. Top Language Access & Certification Provider Serving Federal Government Commits New Funding for Added Training, Testing and Security Clearance Certification of Its Domestic Interpreter Workforce.


February 2010

Over-the-Phone Interpretation Continues to Grow Despite U.S. Economy.  Real-time Data from Language Line® LanguageTrak Points to Record Increases in Demand
Language Line Services' - Cross-Cultural Update for February 2010.  Useful Cultural News, Tips and Timely Information 


January 2010

"Language Line Services Does an About Face (-to-Face)" by Nataly Kelly of Common Sense Advisory and the Global Watchtower
Language Line Services Announces Introduction of On-Site Interpretation Service in California.  Leader in over-the-phone medical interpretation brings consistent quality in language access to healthcare providers and new jobs to California
Leaders and Advocates Convene in Washington, D.C. for
Fourth Annual National Medical Interpreter Certification – Open Forum.  Medical Interpreter Lobby Day and Rally on Capitol Hill to Prelude This Year’s Forum 

Not All Interpretation Services Are Created Equal - HuffingtonPost.com - By Louis Provenzano
Language Line Services' - Cross-Cultural Update for January 2010.  Useful Cultural News, Tips and Timely Information 
Help Haitian Victims Now Through The American Red Cross.  Latest news "50,000 dead in Haiti, says Red Cross"


December 2009

Language Interpretation Services in Health Care Industry Reach Tipping Point in 2010, Huffington Post

Archived News