Illinois Village Debates Official Language - Part 2

by Lauren Nemec

Last night, the Carpentersville village board of trustees voted on and passed a resolution declaring English as the village's official language.

The resolution that was passed is much weaker than the originally proposed ordinance. An ordinance would have been enforceable, meaning that- by law- officials would not be able to distribute foreign language materials or offer multilingual services.

Instead, the trustees opted to pass a resolution, which is no more than an official declaration that English is the official language of Carpentersville. Though it lacks teeth (it does not bar village officials from offering foreign language services and materials), opponents of the resolution believe it will divide the community by sending the message that Carpentersville is not tolerant of diversity. Supporters of the resolution hope it will encourage residents to learn English.

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the board meeting and bring back a first-hand account (alas, Chicago White Sox baseball tickets proved to be too much of a temptation). According to reports, the meeting was quite a spectacle, with over 100 people voicing their opinions through boos, catcalls, applause and cheers.

Over 100 people attended the Carpentersville village board meeting on Tuesday night. Photo credit: WBBM 780 News Radio.

As the immigration debate heats up here in the United States, we will continue to see more and more towns, villages and cities proposing and passing English-only resolutions and ordinances. However, I believe that the majority of these towns will find that they achieve very little, while causing division in their communities and flirting with unconstitutionality and lawsuits.

A good example is the town of Pahrump, Nevada, which passed an English-only ordinance last November, only to overturn the decision months later after finding that the ordinance only succeeded in creating controversy and discontent.

Further reading:
Nonbinding English-only goes before C'ville board: Chicago Sun Times
Carpentersville Passes English-only Resolution: Northwest Herald

Czech in the Big City

by Veronika Svobodova

I have always loved learning about different cultures. From joining the traditional Javanese Gamalan orchestra to learning the dance steps of the Greek Tsifteteli, I’ve always been the kind of person who’s eager to travel the world and meet new people as much as possible. So when I was asked to come and work with Translatus in Chicago, I knew it was a great opportunity for me to experience life in yet another part of the world.

I was born in a small town in Moravia, the eastern region of the Czech Republic. In January of 1996 my family moved to Jakarta, Indonesia. While there, we also visited nearby countries like Singapore and Thailand, and then moved on to live in Thessaloniki, Greece. After almost 9 years of living abroad, my family moved back to the Czech Republic. I decided to move to the capital city of Prague, where later, in April 2006, I started working with Translatus Inc as a project manager in the Operations Department.

Moving to Chicago was my first time ever visiting the US. I knew right from the start it was going to be quite different from anywhere else I’ve been, so I decided to get ready for the unexpected.

Here are some of my impressions of living in Chicago so far:

1) Everything is large, or sometimes even extra large (to my “small” European eyes, that is) large cars, large streets, tall buildings, large meals….

2) The food is really good. I haven't had food here yet that I didn’t like. What is quite surprising though (at least for me) is the fact that everything is served with chips. Posters on restaurants and sandwich corners invite you to "have a healthy meal" while you get your “healthy” meal served with a bag of chips. I’m not really sure how healthy that is.

3) Certain things are just quite different and at first just a little confusing for those who don’t know. While grocery shopping, when you pay for your items, your change in coins comes through an automated machine into a little bowl, while the bills are handed to you by the cashier. The first time I went grocery shopping the cashier had to scream after me and point out to the place where I "forgot" to take my change from.

4) Generally people in Chicago are very nice and friendly. It always brightens my day to see people smile not only at me but also at each other

5) However, sometimes this friendliness can be too much. Having a waitress ask you how your food is three times during your lunch as you’ve just taken another bite of your hamburger isn’t exactly my kind of fun. Luckily this doesn’t happen that often.

6) Everybody's always trying to sell you something or make you contribute to some organization, or even save you from your sins. A short walk from one corner of the street to another may include a sales person trying to sell you a voucher to a near by salon, an activist trying to make you contribute to the saving of the environment, a young lady inviting you to a "free" makeover (with the purchase of the product of course) and a street preacher screaming in a microphone and giving out pamphlets.

7) Going shopping can sometimes be a little nerve-racking. You are constantly followed by shopping assistants who try to give you "their best deal" just so they can sell you something. One incident involved the sales person going so far and telling my colleague that he just contradicted himself. We left the shop without buying anything. Lesson learned: coming on too strong and aggressive may result in no sales at all

The city and I are reflected in Millennium Park's "Cloud Gate",

also affectionately called "the bean" by many Chicagoans.

Over all I am enjoying these little differences in culture and so far it has been an interesting experience living in the US. I will write more about my life in Chicago in the next couple of months and then towards the end of my visit in October, hopefully also with some news from my travels throughout the US.

Translatus Chicago Welcomes Veronika Svobodová

by Matthew Miodonski

Translatus would like to welcome Veronika Svobodová to its Chicago office.

Veronika is an alumna of La Salle University, Philadelphia with an M.A. in Professional Communication and Public Relations. She is a native Czech with international experience acquired through living in different countries of the world, including Indonesia and Greece. Before joining Translatus, Veronika worked in the Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Prague.Veronika, who has been with the company for over one year, makes the move from Translatus’ Prague Operations Department where she served as a Project Manager. As North American Account Manager, she will assist with Translatus’ North American Sales efforts and will manage the translation needs of North American clients.

While Veronika is new to the United States, her unique background of living abroad for much of her life, as well as her learning new cultures in various locales, will suit her well in her efforts from the U.S.

Everyone at Translatus wishes Veronika well, as we know she will be successful in her North American endeavors and will enjoy her time in Chicago.

In the next few weeks, Veronika will share some of her experiences and impressions of the United States.

For more information about Translatus in the United States, please contact:

Matthew Miodonski

President, North American Division

Email: mmiodonski@translatus.com

Tel: +1 773 603 0091

www.translatus.com

Illinois Village Debates Official Language – Part 1

by Lauren Nemec

The small village of Carpentersville, Illinois is situated in the Northwestern suburbs of Chicago in the Fox River Valley. It’s your average small American community, with a main street, historical buildings, great pizza joints, baseball fields and friendly neighbors. My memories of Carpentersville make it sound idyllic, though residents might say things are far from perfect, especially now that a fierce debate is raging over a proposal to make English the official language of the village.

In the mid-to-late 1800’s, immigrants from Germany, Sweden and Poland settled in Carpentersville to work in its iron and machinery factories. Now, a century later, Mexican immigrants also go there seeking better opportunities and a higher standard of living. In the 1960’s, Carpentersville was 99.9% white. As of the 2000 census, Hispanics make up more than 40% of the population of 30,000.

Carpentersville currently provides many Spanish-language materials for its residents, including the village newsletter, fire safety handouts, utility bills, information packets for new residents and other useful materials. When the village recently switched to standard garbage disposal receptacles, Spanish-language notices were sent out with the village newsletter. Interpreters help Spanish-speaking residents understand policies that could be beneficial for them.

However, earlier this month a village trustee submitted a controversial proposal that, if passed, would require the Village of Carpentersville to conduct its affairs only in English, putting an end to these multilingual services. According to the Daily Herald (a newspaper serving Chicago’s suburbs), this would mean that “all meetings, proceedings, signage, forms, documents and publications would have to be in English.”

Many argue that this would alienate a significant number of residents and make it difficult for public servants to communicate vital information. Both the Police Chief and Fire Chief of Carpentersville agree that an ordinance like this would effect how they communicate with and assist residents. Indeed, Spanish-speakers in Carpentersville would have a very difficult time getting the health, safety, and legal assistance they need. Carpentersville might also feel the economic effects from high legal fees and businesses leaving town.

The board of trustees has delayed the decision on this proposal until mid-June, in order to give them time to clearly define the proposal, consult with lawyers and gather information to understand how much village business is conducted in languages other than English.

As someone who specializes in the language services industry (and has familial ties in Carpentersville), I am particularly interested in the outcome of this issue and the ramifications it would have, if passed. According to organizations like the American Translators Association and the Common Sense Advisory, the market for language services is currently at about $13 billion and growing at a rate of 15-20% a year. This shows us what should be quite obvious already: in this ever-shrinking world, the need for us to successfully communicate with each other is both essential and immediate. People are living closer together than ever before and we must communicate in whatever language is necessary to get a message successfully delivered.

The Village President, Bill Sarto, puts it simply: “…the point of communication is just that -- to communicate."

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The Carpentersville language issue will be on the agenda at the village board meeting on June 19^th, which just happens to coincide with a Chicago visit I have planned at that time. With any luck, I might be able to attend the meeting and bring back a first-hand account of the developments of this story. Stay tuned…

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Further reading:

English-only law returns to spotlight- Heated issue back in Carpentersville: The Chicago Tribune

Carpentersville delays vote on English-only law: The Beacon News

Using only English a safety issue, some say: The Daily Herald

Carpentersville delays decision on English: The Daily Herald

Translatus Opens New Office in Chicago

by Matthew Miodonski

President, North American Division

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Translatus has opened a new North American office on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue at 333 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1000. As a native Chicagoan, this news is particularly exciting for me to share!

Chicagoans feel a great deal of civic pride for this city for many reasons. Chicago has undergone a multitude of staggering changes over the past 15 years. Chicago is now considered among the most important and influential cities on the globe. Construction is booming throughout the city. Neighborhoods are being revitalized. Companies like Boeing and United Airlines have made downtown Chicago their home. Internationally known companies like McDonald’s, Motorola and BP Amoco also have their international or national headquarters in the area.

Translatus Inc.'s new North American headquarters in Chicago, at 333 N. Michigan Ave. The building at the center-right, with the crown protruding over the John Hancock center's anttenae, holds Translatus' office at Suite 1000.

The Chicago area (known as “Chicagoland” to locals) has been the Top Metro for new corporate investments and expansions for 5 of the last 6 years. Chicago was the first U.S. city highlighted by China’s EXIT magazine, the only magazine associated with the China National Tourism Association. The recently re-elected mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley, has made great efforts in promoting the city to the emerging Chinese markets. (From World Business Chicago.)

This picture was taken about two blocks from Translatus’ office from the Michigan AvenueBridge over the Chicago River. The new Trump Tower Chicago, at right, illustrates the building boom underway in Chicago. The building designed in the style of classical Greek architecture is United Airlines’ new corporate headquarters.

It has been an exhilarating first few weeks in such an energetic and inspiring setting. I believe Chicago, as the United States’ transportation hub, and one of the great transportation centers of the world, is the perfect spot for Translatus to be in North America. I look forward to the growth that Translatus will achieve in the Windy City!

From the base of 333 N. Michigan Ave— immediately at right— one can see three of the most beautiful buildings in the world. The neo-Gothic flying buttresses of Tribune Tower, home of the Tribune Co.; the terra cotta façade of the Wrigley Building, home of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company; and, further in the distance, the John Hancock Center, with its tapered sides, and revolutionary external ‘X’-bracing.

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Mr. Miodonski graduated from the college of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a B.A. in Rhetoric, as well as a Minor in Germanic Studies. He has over 6 years of experience in customer service and sales roles, including almost 4 years in sales and account management for Translatus.

For more information about Translatus in the United States, please contact:

Matthew Miodonski

President, North American Division

Email: mmiodonski@translatus.com

Tel: +1 773 603 0091

www.translatus.com