Language

Readout of Justice Department’s Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative Virtual Convening

Indira Patel0

Today, as part of the Justice Department’s Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative, the Civil Rights Division hosted a virtual convening with law enforcement stakeholders to discuss their efforts to address language barriers in policing and build effective language access programs. The initiative, launched in December 2022, is a nationwide effort to assist law enforcement agencies in meeting their obligation to provide meaningful language assistance to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) to better serve and protect communities. The initiative also builds on the division’s longstanding work to ensure that law enforcement agencies receiving federal financial assistance comply with their federal

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New Zealand’s central bank defends Maori language use

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By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand’s central bank chief defended its use of the Maori language in official communications on Wednesday, as the country’s new centre-right government looks to roll back the use of the Indigenous language in the public sector. The three parties in the new coalition government last week signed agreements that outline policies to roll back the use of Maori language and require all government agencies to primarily use English for their department names and communications. Central bank governor Adrian Orr said at a media conference following the bank’s monetary policy meeting that it was

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U.S. Trustee Program Provides Nearly 10,000 Language Interpretation Sessions in Fiscal Year 2023 for Debtors with Limited English Proficiency

Indira Patel0

Consistent with its commitment to access to justice for all, the U.S. Trustee Program provided 9,910 free telephone interpretation sessions for debtors with limited English proficiency in bankruptcy proceedings in Fiscal Year 2023, the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees announced today. “Language interpretation services are essential to fulfilling the bankruptcy system’s promise of a fresh start for consumer debtors,” said Director Tara Twomey of the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees. “The U.S. Trustee Program is committed to ensuring that promise is accessible to all debtors no matter their English language proficiency.” Debtors use the interpretation services during their meetings of

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Mexican central bank keeps interest rate steady, softens language

Reuters0

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -The Bank of Mexico held its benchmark interest at 11.25% on Thursday as expected, underscoring it will likely maintain the reference rate at its current level for “some time,” reflecting a moderation in language from its previous statements. The decision by the central bank’s five-member board to hold the key lending rate steady for the fifth consecutive time was unanimous. Following the announcement from Banxico, as the monetary authority is known, the peso currency took a slight hit, weakening over 1%. All analysts polled in a Reuters survey expected the central bank to hold the interest rate

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‘Absolute Disgusting Language’: GOP Presidential Candidates Condemn Campus Antisemitism, Threaten To Pull Funding

The Daily Caller0

‘Absolute Disgusting Language’: GOP Presidential Candidates Condemn Campus Antisemitism, Threaten To Pull Funding Mary Lou Masters on October 21, 2023 GOP presidential primary hopefuls slammed antisemitism on campuses following the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, and some are floating defunding such universities in its wake, according to comments provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation. College students across the country have held pro-Palestinian protests and written anti-Israel letters. “Title 6 prohibits federal funding for any college or university that enables anti-Semitism. I will fully enforce this law,” North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum told the DCNF in a statement. Republican presidential

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Dems Seethe After Ballot Board Approves Amendment Language Changing ‘Fetus’ To ‘Unborn Child’

The Daily Caller0

Dems Seethe After Ballot Board Approves Amendment Language Changing ‘Fetus’ To ‘Unborn Child’ Kate Anderson on August 25, 2023 Democrats called out new language added to a proposed abortion amendment Thursday that changed the term “fetus” to an “unborn child,” according to the Ohio Capital Journal. The members of the Ohio Ballot Board, which include Secretary of State Frank LaRose, voted 3 to 2 to alter the previous version of the amendment from “abortion may be prohibited after fetal viability” to new language that reads the state must “always allow an unborn child to be aborted at any stage of

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Maui wildfire shutters treasured Hawaiian language school

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By Rachel Nostrant (Reuters) – The Punana Leo language-immersion school in Lahaina, the historic former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, stood for decades as a gleaming symbol of the fight to stop Hawaiian language and culture from disappearing forever. Last week the preschool became one of the casualties of a wildfire inferno that displaced thousands, upended Maui’s tourism-fueled economy and killed more than 100 people – a number that is expected to rise as the search for the missing pushes ahead. The school was decimated, said Ka’iulani Laeha, chief executive officer of Aha Punana Leo, the nonprofit organization that

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International Education Org Explains How To Work ‘Queer Theory’ Into Language Studies

The Daily Caller0

International Education Org Explains How To Work ‘Queer Theory’ Into Language Studies Reagan Reese on August 3, 2023 The largest organization focused on teaching English throughout the world held a seminar for educators to learn how to foster inclusivity and challenge societal norms within the “language classroom,” according to an unearthed webinar reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation. The presentation encouraged educators to work “queer theory” into their language lessons and to challenge “cis heteronormativity” in the classroom.  “Queering the classroom invites us to consider how identities, languages and everything in our more than social world is not fixed.

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Blue State Education Board Adopts ‘Equity’ Policy That Nixes Gendered Language

The Daily Caller0

Blue State Education Board Adopts ‘Equity’ Policy That Nixes Gendered Language Reagan Reese on August 3, 2023 The New Jersey State Board of Education adopted an “equity” policy Wednesday, changing all gender terms such as “men and women” with the word “persons” to make the language neutral, according to NJ Spotlight News. In a 6-5 vote, the state Board of Education approved a new equity code replacing all mentions of “equality” in the state’s administrative code with “equity,” according to NJ Spotlight News. The code also requires schools to separate students for sexual education classes on the basis of gender

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Ilhan Omar Defends Dem Rep Who Called Israel ‘Racist’: ‘Policing The Language Of Black And Brown Women’

The Daily Caller0

Ilhan Omar Defends Dem Rep Who Called Israel ‘Racist’: ‘Policing The Language Of Black And Brown Women’ Kate Anderson on July 18, 2023 Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota defended one of her colleagues for calling Israel ‘racist’ in a Tuesday tweet. Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington apologized Sunday for calling the Jewish state racist after protesters showed up during a conference over the weekend, calling for Palestinians to be free from Israel. Omar, who has a history of making antisemitic comments, responded to Jayapal’s apology over Twitter, saying that people spend “too much time policing the language of

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NATO allies agree language on Ukraine membership pathway to NATO – sources

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VILNIUS (Reuters) – NATO leaders have reached agreement over how to define their future relationship with Ukraine, including its membership bid, four diplomats said on Tuesday. One of the diplomats said the final wording on the declaration regarding Ukraine’s future membership read that NATO “will be in a position to extend an invitation to join the Alliance when Allies agree and conditions are met. (Reporting by John Irish, Sabine Siebold, Andrew Gray and Steve Holland)

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Ant Group confirms it is working on own AI large language model

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SHANGHAI (Reuters) – A technology research and development team at China’s Ant Group is developing its own large-language model (LLM), internally called Zhenyi, a spokesperson said on Wednesday, confirming reports in Chinese media. There was no further information on the public unveiling of the model, however. Chinese organisations have launched 79 large-language models (LLMs) dometically over the last three years, doubling down on efforts to develop artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, state-run research institutes said last month in a report. (Reporting by Casey Hall; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

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Lawyers Touting ‘Compassion,’ ‘Empathy’ Resign After Emails Reveal ‘Prejudiced Language’ Against Women And Minorities

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Lawyers Touting ‘Compassion,’ ‘Empathy’ Resign After Emails Reveal ‘Prejudiced Language’ Against Women And Minorities Kate Anderson on June 6, 2023 Two Los Angeles attorneys resigned from the law firm Barber Ranen Monday after emails revealed that the partners had a history of using misogynist, antisemitic and homophobic slurs, according to the New York Post. Jeff Ranen and John Barber left the major law firm Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith in May to start the firm, Barber Ranen, in order to reflect their own “values and beliefs,” while touting their commitment to lead with “empathy, collaboration and compassion,” according to the

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University Revises Language Guide To Remove ‘Bunnies,’ ‘Christmas Trees’ From List Of Offensive Terms

The Daily Caller0

University Revises Language Guide To Remove ‘Bunnies,’ ‘Christmas Trees’ From List Of Offensive Terms Alexa Schwerha on May 26, 2023 Michigan State University (MSU) appears to have revised an inclusive language guide to remove words such as “bunnies,” “chicks” and “America” from its list of potentially offensive terms following a string of backlash, the New Guard reported. MSU’s language guide originally warned readers to refrain from using specific words, such as “bunnies,” “chicks,” “Christmas trees” and “reindeer,”  that could be affiliated with religious holidays. The guide currently posted on the university’s website was revised in April and removes the section

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University Quietly Scrubs Language Guide That Called Women ‘Wimmin’

The Daily Caller0

University Quietly Scrubs Language Guide That Called Women ‘Wimmin’ Alexa Schwerha on May 3, 2023 The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) removed a language guide that offered alternative spellings of the word “women” from its webpage. UT Austin’s Financial and Administrative Services had a glossary of terms called “Language Matters” published on its website as part of its “Diversity Commitment,” that included three different spellings of the “women” that avoid reference to the suffix “-men,” according to an archived version of the website. The link now directs users to its Diversity Commitment website, which outlines the department’s commitment

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Nvidia releases software tools to help chatbots watch their language

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By Stephen Nellis (Reuters) – Nvidia Corp, a major supplier of chips and computing systems for artificial intelligence, on Tuesday released a set of software tools aimed at helping chatbots watch their language. Nvidia’s chips have helped companies like Microsoft Corp add human-like chat features to search engines like Bing. But the chatbots can still be unpredictable and say things their creators wish they did not. Microsoft in February limited users to five questions per session with its Bing search engine after the New York Times reported the system gave unsettling responses during long conversations. Nvidia’s software tools, provided free

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EXCLUSIVE: School District Offers ‘Women Studies Course’ That Encourages Students To Use ‘Gender-Neutral’ Language

The Daily Caller0

EXCLUSIVE: School District Offers ‘Women Studies Course’ That Encourages Students To Use ‘Gender-Neutral’ Language Reagan Reese on April 2, 2023 A Texas school district offered a “Women and Gender Studies” course that taught students to use “gender-neutral” language when describing jobs in order to be more inclusive, according to course materials obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation. In the 2022-2023 school year, Judson Independent School District offered a “Women and Gender Studies” course which quizzes students on the definition of “safe space” and “patriarchy,” according to documents obtained by the DCNF through a public records request. As a part

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Meloni’s party looks to shield Italian language from foreign contamination

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ROME (Reuters) – Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party has proposed imposing fines of up to 100,000 euros ($108,750) on public and private entities which use foreign terms, most notably English, instead of Italian in official communications. “It is not just a matter of fashion, as fashions pass, but Anglomania (has) repercussions for society as a whole,” said the text of the draft bill, calling for the Italian language to be protected and nurtured. The bill was presented by lawmakers from Meloni’s nationalist Brothers of Italy party and will have to be approved by both houses of parliament to become law.

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Italy’s language watchdog says ‘no’ to gender-neutral symbols

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By Alvise Armellini ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s courts should stick to tradition and avoid the novelty of gender-neutral symbols in official documents, according to the institution that acts as the guardian of the Italian language. The Accademia della Crusca was asked to weigh in on the matter by the equal opportunities committee of the Corte di Cassazione, Italy’s top appeals body, illustrating the national debate over gender issues and political correctness. In Italian, as in other Latin-based tongues, nouns can take a feminine or masculine form, but the plural masculine form tends to take precedence. For example, the masculine form

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Oscar success puts ‘endangered’ Irish language centre stage

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By Padraic Halpin DUBLIN (Reuters) – Thousands of miles from the glitz of Sunday’s Oscars, the first Irish language film to earn a nomination is sparking renewed interest in a native tongue spoken by so few it is considered endangered by the United Nations cultural agency. Competing for best international feature, “An Cailín Ciúin” (The Quiet Girl) last year became the first Irish language film to gross more than 1 million euros ($1.06 million) at the UK and Irish box office. It has remained a fixture in cinemas across English-speaking Ireland. Director Colm Bairéad says the success feels like it

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Justice Department Announces New Language Access Law Enforcement Initiative

DOJ Press0

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced the launch of the Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative, a nationwide effort to assist law enforcement agencies in meeting their obligations to provide meaningful language assistance to limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. The Initiative will build on the department’s longstanding work to ensure that law enforcement agencies are complying with their language access obligations. “Providing law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to ensure effective and meaningful language access promotes and advances greater safety for limited English proficient people,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Through

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‘Toothless Language’: Pro-Energy Groups Call On Congressional Leaders To Reject Manchin’s Energy Bill

The Daily Caller0

‘Toothless Language’: Pro-Energy Groups Call On Congressional Leaders To Reject Manchin’s Energy Bill Jack McEvoy on December 13, 2022 Twelve conservative and pro-energy advocacy groups sent a letter Monday urging Democratic and Republican congressional leaders to vote against Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin’s permitting bill, which they believe would greatly expand the power of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) while doing little to expedite the development of key energy projects. Manchin’s proposed bill, dubbed ‘The Building American Energy Security Act of 2022,” aims to speed up the permitting of domestic energy infrastructure by reforming federal environmental rules and

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Virginia School District Seeks Feedback On New ‘Gender Combined’ Sex-Ed Lessons With ‘Inclusive’ Language

The Daily Caller0

Virginia School District Seeks Feedback On New ‘Gender Combined’ Sex-Ed Lessons With ‘Inclusive’ Language Reagan Reese on November 24, 2022 Fairfax County Public Schools’ proposed changes for the sexual education curriculum feature gender-combined lessons on human reproduction using “inclusive” words and are currently under community review, according to the school website. The proposed “Family Life Education Instructional Materials” focus on making lessons “gender inclusive,” noting that puberty is not specific to just boys and girls, according to the school website. The community has until Dec. 1 to comment on the curriculum changes before the school board votes on the recommendations.

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Jackson Councilman calls for mandate on English language, slams Bramnick’s grief mandate

Phil Stilton0

JACKSON, NJ – New Jersey mandates a lot of things. COVID-19 vaccines, sanctuary state protection, police reform, COVID-19 lockdowns and more, but one New Jersey lawmaker says its time to mandate more important things, like the English language and education. “Our local senator John Bramnick decided he was going to introduce legislation mandating grief classes for high school students in New Jersey. In and of itself, it doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” Chisolm said. “Is this really what we should be mandating English? Reading? Writing? Arithmetic? Things that can make New Jersey one of the top five and not

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ECB hawks play down change in rate language as doves claim small win -sources

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By Francesco Canepa, Balazs Koranyi and Frank Siebelt FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Some European Central Bank policymakers played down a change in the ECB’s official message on interest rates, which saw the bank remove a reference to “several” further hikes in the coming months, sources told Reuters. The European Central Bank raised interest rates again on Thursday and said it expects to increase them “further” but it cautioned “substantial” progress had already been made in its bid to fight off a historic surge in inflation. It also dropped a reference to increasing rates “over the next several meetings” that was in

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