LC Translates for MA Trial Court
The Massachusetts Trial Court has to deal with a very diverse population including many linguistic minorities[1]. With the aim to enhance communication among these minorities and ensure that Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals have access to important information, the MA Trial Court recently embarked on several translation projects.
To carry out these projects, the court relied on Language Connections’ long standing translation expertise and knowledge of the targeted populations. The translation process involved selecting professional translation services providers specializing in legal terminology, who were also familiar with the Massachusetts legal procedure and the linguistic peculiarities of the audience, and could work in tandem with the court editors to ensure the highest quality and accuracy. The forms are now available in Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, Khmer, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole and can be found on the MA trial court website.
Language Connections also participated in the translation and dubbing of an instructional video showing claimants and defendants how to file a claim in seven languages. Although the court’s budget did not allow for a full-on lip-synced version (as done in Hollywood movies which is very expensive), the client was extremely pleased with the resulting videos due in no small part to the preciseness of the translators and the talent of our professional voice actors.
More recently, Language Connections was asked by the MA Trial Court to provide translations of forms to obtain abuse prevention orders and harassment prevention orders. A restraining order or protective order is a legal order issued by a state court that requires one person to stop harming another. These forms will be available in the seven languages listed above with the addition of Arabic.
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[1] Massachusetts is home to an increasingly linguistically and culturally diverse population. According to United States 2010 census figures for Massachusetts, 14.5% of residents (during the period 2006 through 2010) were foreign-born. In addition, one-fifth (21 .0%) of persons over five years of age in 2010 spoke a language other than English at home. Two-fifths (40.8%) of these individuals spoke English less than “very well,”. Massachusetts has the second highest number of Khmer/Cambodian speakers in the nation, the third highest number of French, French Creole, and Portuguese speakers, and the fourth highest number of Chinese speakers in the nation. Currently, Latinos comprise 9.6% of the total Massachusetts population, a 46% rise from the 2000 figures.
About Language Connections:
Language Connections is one of the top language service companies in the US. Over the last 30 years, we’ve focused on providing the best business translation services, interpreting services, as well as interpreter training and customized language training programs. In addition to top-tier corporate language training, we offer certified corporate interpreters and professional business translation services in 200+ languages. Our network includes linguists with backgrounds in all major industries. They’re ready to meet your needs, whether they’re for technical translation services, legal translation, government translation services, international development translation services, education translation services, life sciences translation, or something else. Reach out to us today for a free quote on our cost-efficient and timely translation services, interpreters, or other linguistic services.
Language Connections Inc.
2001 Beacon Street, Suite 105,
Boston, MA 02135
Phone: +1-617-731-3510
Email: service@languageconnections.com