a term used in NYC’s Local Law 30. For purposes of readability and consistency, we have chosen to use Department as the term of reference.

a term used specifically in Toronto’s Multilingual Information Provisions Policy to refer to “information that will or may impact the health and safety of Toronto residents and/or communication about a long-term or sudden disruption of the City’s critical services” (MIPP, 2017, p.1).

a term used specifically in Toronto’s Multilingual Information Provisions Policy to refer to “City services that must be provided immediately without which, loss of life, infrastructure destruction, and/or significant loss of revenue may result. These services normally require resumption within 24 hours to ensure that the health, safety, security and economic well-being of Toronto residents is maintained” (MIPP, 2017, p.1-2).

Defined under San Francisco’s Language Access Ordinance as either:

an administrative division of a government that specializes in a particular area (e.g. Department in San Francisco, Agency in NYC, Division in Toronto).

a department that falls under the jurisdiction of the relevant (language access) policy or law. For language access policies, it generally means Departments that provide direct services to the public.

the person in charge of the Department (e.g. Division Head in Toronto).

a term used in Toronto’s Multilingual Information Provisions Policy. For purposes of readability and consistency, we have chosen to use Department as the term of reference.

the oral process of rendering a spoken message from one language into another.

the individual(s) responsible for coordinating tasks relating to language access within individual Departments. This role is distinct from NYC’s Language Services Coordinator (defined in NYC’s Local Law 30) who oversees the performance of Covered Departments.

San Francisco’s local ordinance regarding language access. It is also known as Chapter 91 of San Francisco’s Administrative Code.

a policy providing a guideline or a mandate as to how information will be made accessible in non-official languages.While a policy defines a course of action for a government, it does not hold the weight of law. A law is a rule or principle that must be adhered to by all, including organizations and institutions. Toronto’s Multilingual Information Provisions Policy (MIPP) helps to outline the intentions of the government, but it does not hold the same enforceable weight of law as San Francisco’s Language Access Ordinance (LAO) or NYC’s Local Law 30 (LL30).

a role defined in NYC’s Local Law 30 that is responsible for overseeing the performance of Covered Departments as it relates to language access. This role is distinct in that Language Access Coordinators oversee language access within individual Departments, while Language Services Coordinators monitor language access across all Departments.Duties include collecting annual reports from each Department regarding their language access implementation plan; establishing criteria for providing services in langauges other than languages other than English; and maintaining a central library of translated materials accessible to the public.

a designation used in American legislation across municipal, state, and federal legislatures. An LEP speaker is a self-identified individual that has difficulty communicating effectively in English, often because English is not their primary language.

NYC’s local law regarding language access.

a specific geographic area, a neighbourhood, and/or a ward or adjacent wards in the city.

Toronto’s policy regarding language access. A policy, distinct from a law, outlines an institution’s intentions, but may not necessarily be enforced.

a Department in San Francisco that oversees areas relating to Civic Engagement, Community Safety, Grant making, Integrated Immigrant Services, and Language Access. They are tasked with monitoring compliance to the Language Access Ordinance (LAO).

Or also called the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. As part of their duties relating to New York City’s Local Law 30, the Office of Immigrant Affairs advises the Mayor and city council in developing and implementing policies designed to assist immigrants and non-English language speakers in the city.

language interpretation conducted over the phone

“the process of rendering a written document (printed or in digital form) from one language into another.”