LJL at Girlvolution
Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center, University of Washington.
May 13th, 2023
SPEAKING UP FOR LINGUISTIC JUSTICE
Linguistics Justice League (LJL) at Girlvolution in Seattle recently conducted a language survey and found an incredible range of languages spoken by youth in King County, Washington.
Do you know how many languages are spoken in your community?
Have you ever considered the barriers that language can create in accessing information or services? Linguistics Justice League at Girlvolution in Seattle discovered the incredible range of languages spoken by youth in King County, Washington, from Oromo to Somali to Spanish to Arabic and beyond. This linguistic diversity is a reflection of the multicultural communities that make up Washington State.
The Urgent Need for Policies and Cultural Change to Ensure Linguistic Equity
However, the lack of reading material and accurate translation methods for low-resource languages creates a significant challenge. The solution is in policies and cultural change. Establishing policies that enable multilingual support and allocating budget for language initiatives can help ensure that everyone has access to the information they need, regardless of the language they speak.
Language to Empower Communities
The power of language is incredible, and it is essential to use it to empower and include everyone. LJL aims to be an example of the potential of language to unite communities and create positive change.
- Promoting linguistic diversity can help to create a more inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard, regardless of their cultural or linguistic background.
- Recognizing and supporting different languages can help to improve communication and understanding between people from different backgrounds and cultures.
- Promoting linguistic diversity can help to ensure that everyone has access to the information and services they need, regardless of the language they speak.
- Recognizing and promoting linguistic diversity can help to foster cultural exchange and understanding between people from different cultures and backgrounds.
- Promoting linguistic diversity can be a powerful tool for creating social change and promoting social justice by empowering marginalized communities and promoting inclusion and equality.
LJL Met Inspiring Social Justice Activists and organizations in Seattle
LJL also had the opportunity to meet and interact with several organizations dedicated to social justice and inclusivity, such as Communities of Rooted Brilliance, The Vera Project, and Young Women Empowered. These organizations are doing important work in their communities, and LJL was inspired by their dedication to social justice and inclusivity.
How Linguistic Justice Empowers Communities and Promotes Inclusivity
Linguistic justice is about recognizing the power of language and ensuring that it is used to empower and include everyone, regardless of their cultural background or linguistic abilities. We should all strive to learn about the different languages spoken in our communities and support policies that promote linguistic diversity and inclusivity.
