Press Release

Public Sector Can Swap Language Translation £££s For Multilingualism

2009 September, 20

Spending on language translation and interpretation by the public sector has reached up to £70,000 a day.

European Day of Languages is on 26th September and Rosetta Stone language-learning software specialists are highlighting the value of investing in language learning as opposed to short-term fixes such as translation of public documents.

Rosetta Stone Managing Director for Europe, Sylke Riester, said: “Multicultural Britain is yet to become multilingual, with only 20% of Brits able to speak a second language fluently. Increasing this figure is a priority for the public sector, where the range of messages to deliver, and communities to reach, is ever-growing.

“Public sector staff will find learning languages enables them to make a stronger impact. Target audiences – whether it’s local authority residents, foreign counterparts or policymakers - will relate to your message more readily if you speak their language.”

There are more than 300 languages spoken in London, six official languages of the United Nations and 23 languages used by the European Parliament. This month (September) it was reported by the Daily Telegraph that police in the UK are spending up to £70,000 a day on translation.

A survey commissioned by Rosetta Stone and carried out by ICM revealed that only 20% of Britons can speak a second language fluently. Of those who can, the top five languages are French – the leader by far - (12%), Spanish (3%), German (3%), Welsh (2%) and Italian (2%).

When spoken to by a foreign visitor, 19% of Brits lack the confidence to respond to them in their own language, preferring to stick to English, while 20% feel guilty about not being able to speak any language other than their mother tongue.

Rosetta Stone provides interactive software solutions. Using technology to tap into innate language learning ability, it is far from the traditional classroom experience. For more information go to www.RosettaStone.co.uk or call 0800 2800 927.

About Rosetta Stone

Acclaimed for the speed, power and effectiveness of its Dynamic ImmersionTM method, Rosetta Stone is a revolutionary language learning software program.

Rosetta Stone was founded in 1992 on two core beliefs: that the natural way people learn languages as children remains the most successful method for learning new languages; and that interactive CD-ROM and online technology can recreate the immersion method powerfully for learners of any age. Rosetta Stone (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of Rosetta Stone Inc., is based in London.

Daily Telegraph article:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/6140345/Police-spend-70000-a-day-on-translation.html

Rebecca Barr
Communications Director Europe
Rosetta Stone®
Procter House
1 Procter Street
London, WC1V 6DW
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0) 207 492 9038
Email: rbarr@rosettastone.com
www.RosettaStone.co.uk