Public language services for speakers of non-official languages

   Our presentation focuses on understanding how language services are provided in two international cities and how improvements can be made to cater to the needs of residents who do not have high proficiency in the... [ view full abstract ]

   Our presentation focuses on understanding how language services are provided in two international cities and how improvements can be made to cater to the needs of residents who do not have high proficiency in the country’s official language. A few parallels can be drawn between New Zealand and Japan as they are experiencing a growth in ethnic diversity amongst its resident population. Japan is no longer a homogeneous country as dozens of minority languages are contributing to the multilingual makeup of Japanese society. Local governments are under pressure to provide linguistic services (e.g., tsunami warnings, public signage, telephone assistance, hospital pamphlets) that ensure the safety and welfare for all its citizens.       

   This study examines particular services that are accessible in the public domain by comparing Hiroshima City in Japan and superdiverse Auckland, New Zealand. Consulting services and city information offered in non-official languages were surveyed. Examples of pictograms will also be shown to illustrate the challenge in interpreting public signs with or without language. As a result, gaps may exist between the language used in public signs and migrants’ interpretation of their meanings. Our findings suggest that further steps need to be taken to identify how linguistic support can be provided, for which languages, and for which public services. A discussion will include how future initiatives may assist in accommodating the needs of each city’s ethnically diverse population.