The+Language+Barrier+(Matt,+Natalie,+Elona,+&+Emilisa)



Language Is not a barrier

The main language in the United States has always been English. That is what is taught in schools and what is used in work place and it’s the main form that people use to communicate. Its logical that English should be the language that we use to run the country. Even some of the forms are in both languages mainly used in this county. Even ads and materials to get peoples attention to get out and vote have been seen in both languages. In Schools students that are not native speakers have many opportunities like the help of Esol (English as a second language) and teachers that show kids and help them understand the language. Some schools even have bilingual classes so they can be focused on more and taught English. There are practically no reason that the future of this county, the children, will have a language barrier by the time its their turn to have a say in this countries fate. In the United States, all jobs require to speak and understand English. It helps people communicate and get their point across. No work except possibly working in the fields will allow non-English speakers to work. If a person came here young and was in school they should at least have a basic understanding. If they don’t, in many places like schools, community centers, or even churches offer classes for those who dint understand English that allows them to learn the language. People communicate better in one basic and universal language. Other languages have different forms, styles and branches for people to understand them. English is basic and all the words have the same meaning no matter where it was spoken. It hasn’t change and there are fewer misunderstandings on the meanings of things. To compromise on those who still have not learned the native language of the United States, some things are now made bilingual. The absentee form is in both English and Spanish for more people to be able to understand and be able to fill it out. There are many ways to get people out to vote. In the voting places there are many bilingual items and fliers that makes voting the easiest process. Its just a press of a button to pick the candidates and another to vote. There is basically no reason that people that don’t understand the language not to vote. Non-English speakers cannot be badly informed because there are ads in all types of media that are in both Spanish and English. On the television there is multiple ads about the Arizona law, or the candidates and what they stand for. There are jingles on the radio just basically telling people to go out to vote. Some ads are very visual and get their point across well with few words so it will not confuse people. There where also phone calls made to people’s home that allows the voter to hear the message in English and Spanish, even the superintendent called parents home as well. As stated, there are many ways to be informed and understand the language that has been set upon us. The only skills that people need to know is how to at least understand and read the language to be able to vote. Nothing should stand in their if they have been reached in all types of media so they are not badly informed. All people need to do is get to their closest voting place and vote. By: Emilisa Lopez



By: Matt Scuderi
 * Voting Add**

"Language as a voting barrier"

Being an American citizen brings many rights with its name and status. As an American citizen, you are allowed to think freely and express your thoughts. You have a right to be treated as an equal. You have the right to marry. You also have the right to go to jury duty, which is one of the rights that is an acquired taste among Americans… like sushi. But, among the most popular rights of being an American citizen, is the right to vote. Many American citizens take this right seriously. They believe that voting gives them a say as to what goes on in their country. They believe that their voices count. But what happens when their voices are muted out because they are not the voices of proficiently English-speaking Americans? This is one of reasons why the number of recent voter turnouts has been so low. Many American citizens, of different ethnic origins, have come out to vote, but have been neglected, ignored, or have not been given the proper attention that they need by poll workers because they speak a different language.

Catherine Komp touches on this in her article “Hispanic, Asian, Native Citizens Face Voting Barriers”. She writes that, “The Department of Justice (DOJ) sued the city of Philadelphia … for allegedly failing to provide tens of thousands of Spanish-speaking voters with language assistance at the polls in recent elections.” Here, Komp gives us a view as to how difficult it is for a person that speaks a different language, in this case, Spanish, to get some help with interpretation at a voting poll, specifically in Philadelphia. This paper, written in 2006, still holds true to its word today. As I recently visited one of the polling places in my neighborhood in Philadelphia with my friend, I could notice as soon as we walked into the building that the voting poll that this specific poll did not have any translators there to help minorities. Because of the lack of translators at voting places, minorities feel excluded and unimportant, when in fact they should feel the opposite of this. America was created by immigrants, and it is very wrong and unfair that there are still some voting polls in America today that feel as though it is not important enough to hear the voices of the minorities on which this country was built upon. The fact that immigrants are not provided with translation services at some polls discourages them from entering their vote, consequentially discouraging them from voting period.

Not only are minorities denied translation services at polls, but many times, they are also denied their vote. According to Komp, “ ‘In recent elections, our election protection volunteers have identified egregiously mistranslated ballots, interpreter shortages that led to Asian American voters being turned away, and poll workers who made hostile and racist remarks about Asian American voters,’ said Glenn Magpantay, AALDEF staff attorney, in a statement.” Because of the fact that there weren’t enough translators for incoming Asian voters at this poll, the Asians were turned away and were denied the right to vote. This is very unfair. The Asians, who actually took their time to register to vote and to do their part, are being turned away because of the incompetence of the poll workers in their sector. Not only this, but also these voters were also confronted with Racist remarks on behalf of the poll workers. Not only were the Asian voters turned away because they couldn’t receive translation services (again, because of the incompetence of amateur poll workers), but they were also pushed away with racial remarks.

Another ways that language is a barrier for non-English speaking voters is that, although they are offered different language choices at their polls, minority voters are sometimes unclear as to how to vote for the part that they want. In her article, “Minority Voters Face Language Barriers at Polls”, Cassie Stone touches on this. “‘It was in Chinese, but the characters were too small,’ Lam said. ‘I used a magnifying lens I carry around with me to see it.’” Here she explains how an Asian man went to vote. He picked to vote with Chinese translation. When he was reading the names of the candidates to himself in the poll, he realized that the letters were way too small, making it difficult for her him to read the print and make his vote correctly. Voters may find it difficult to read off their possibilities, not only because of small print, but also because of bad explanations and translations. Many times, they have a hard time making a choice for a political candidate because they someone explained the electoral process to them incorrectly or they were given a translator that translated incorrectly and there was a miscommunication of some sort.

This can all be solved, if only everyone does their part. In order to increase voter turn out amongst voters that speak a foreign language, we need to get the word out to them that they do have a say and that they can vote in which ever language they use. In order to effectively spread this message, poll workers must consistently do their part as well. This means that there must be an increase in translators in voting polls all around the U.S. This will encourage the voters to continue to come because they see a consistent effort on behalf of the poll workers to receive their votes. In order for the foreign language-speak voters to learn about their political candidates, it would also be helpful to set up some sort of website that allows them to read about the candidates in the language that they speak. This way, they will be able weight their options without the English language barrier.

In conclusion, although it is true that English is the most predominant of languages in the U.S., It would not be around if it weren’t for the different languages brought to the United States by Immigrants from foreign countries. In order to increase voter turnouts, we need to remember our roots; we must remember where and who we came from. We must make a connection with the people that originally founded this country in order to hear true voice of America. Let’s make it easier foreign language speakers to vote.

by:Natalie Sanchez

=//**Video**//= = = //I linked it off youtube because I couldn't upload the video.//

//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3aBMmxxbCU//

By: Elona Myftaraj

Works cited: · Stone, Cassie. "Minority Voters Face Language Barriers at Polls."//http://www.infozine.com/// (2010): n. pag. Web. 3 Nov 2010. <http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/43863/ · Komp, Catherine. "Hispanic, Asian, Native Citizens Face Voting Barriers." //http://newstandardnews.net/// ( 2006): n. pag. Web. 3 Nov 2010. <http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/3835