As a government agency, the mandate to better the lives of your constituents, state, or country is a considerable one. There are a lot of things to consider and prioritizing them can be difficult. One way to gain an advantage on policy making, negotiations or implementing local laws is to speak the native language, and understand the culture, of the people you’re speaking to. This goes beyond translation and interpretation, this is localization.
As a Language Services Provider (LSP), we work with government agencies and know that they’re always looking to do the best for the people they serve, but often under difficult circumstances.
If you’re in one of those agencies, getting an LSP that you trust on board can not only make your life easier, but keep you in line with local, federal and international laws.
Let’s take a quick look at the top reasons a government agency should see localization as a priority.
Governments have a requirement to communicate in the native language of the people they serve. As a US agency, that requirement can vary from state to state, county to county. Sure, English is the country’s official language, but in California nearly half of the population speak a language other than English at home.
Agencies that are serving these people need to not only understand what languages they need to speak to them in, but what cultures they come from and the customs of those cultures.
Why do you need to understand the cultures? Because these are the people that rely on you to protect the lives of their families. And in turn, you rely on them to keep you in power at the polls and keep your projects funded.
Ultimately American citizens, and those who legally reside in the country, have equal rights with anyone else regardless of the language they speak.
Legal obligations dictate that government agencies must be accessible and clear in their communication. It's their responsibility to ensure that their policies and information are comprehensible to everyone, not the other way around.
Without trust, the public services will always struggle to provide their community with what they need. But how do you gain trust in a world where people’s default position is to question the reasoning and ethics of their elected offices?
Localization is one of the best ways. By localizing, you’re sending a message of acceptance to the people and showing that you’re willing to integrate their culture into the overall fabric of the area.
So much of governing a population is about having your finger on the pulse of your community and being able to see issues before they arise.
To be prepared for any eventuality and then to be able to react swiftly and appropriately to the needs of the people when times are tough, and they need the support of their public servants.
Governments with the right localization strategy are able to do this because they have created an inclusive culture. They understand their electorate and know how to communicate with them quickly and effectively.
We never like to focus on the negative, but it is worth pointing out some of the hazards of not having a linguistic plan in place.
Turn the coin over and talk to your audience, in their language, understand their concerns and integrate the way you work into their way of life, and the benefits can be considerable. You’ll have:
Our best advice, having helped a lot of government agencies over the years, is to partner with a LSP that you trust and let them guide you through the process.
With the right LSP you can be covered legally, morally and focus your time and resources on how best to positively impact the community you operate in.
Are you a government agency seeking expert assistance in localization? We invite you to discuss your needs with us.
Our consultations are complimentary and come with no strings attached.
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