Language Barriers in Rural America: A Growing Concern
Rural Nevada’s Language Access Challenge
Eloisa Mendoza has spent 18 years helping people who aren’t fluent in English navigate complex legal documents. She guides them through stressful events and accompanying dense paperwork, such as citizenship applications, divorces, and birth certificate translations. Mendoza works in Elko, Nevada, situated in a remote region in the state’s northeastern corner. Her work has become increasingly important as the town’s Hispanic or Latino population has grown to about 26%.
The State of Language Access in Rural America
Despite rising demand for local rural governments to communicate with residents in languages other than English, state lawmakers in Nevada left out smaller counties from a recently enacted statewide language-access law. More state and local governments have enacted similar measures during the past few years, but they’re mostly concentrated in urban or suburban jurisdictions. Rural America is largely white and predominantly English-speaking but has rapidly grown more diverse.
The Challenges of Implementing Language Access
Implementing state and local language-access laws is a challenge, researchers say, given standards can vary across state agencies and localities, making it difficult to ensure high-quality assistance is provided to speakers of various non-English languages. Not providing language access to people who need it is not only a violation of civil rights protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, but it also can create public health and safety concerns.
The Impact of Language Barriers
The number of white residents in rural parts of the nation decreased by about 2 million from 2010 to 2020, according to an analysis by the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire. And the percentage of people who are members of a racial or ethnic minority living in rural areas increased from 20% in 2010 to 24% in 2020, with the largest share being Hispanic. As of 2021, 25 million people age 5 or older in the U.S. had limited English proficiency, of whom nearly two-thirds were Hispanic.
Conclusion
Language barriers are a growing concern in rural America, particularly in areas with rapidly growing Hispanic or Latino populations. While some states and local governments have enacted language-access laws, there is still a need for more comprehensive and inclusive policies to ensure equal access to services and information for all residents.
FAQs
Q: What is the current state of language access in rural America?
A: Many rural areas lack language-access laws and policies, leaving residents who are not fluent in English without equal access to services and information.
Q: What are the challenges of implementing language access in rural areas?
A: Standards can vary across state agencies and localities, making it difficult to ensure high-quality assistance is provided to speakers of various non-English languages.
Q: What is the impact of language barriers on public health and safety?
A: Language barriers can create public health and safety concerns, particularly in emergency situations where timely and accurate communication is crucial.
Q: What can be done to address language barriers in rural America?
A: States and local governments can enact language-access laws and policies, and provide resources and training to ensure that residents have equal access to services and information.
