Translation policy and vaccination messaging in Barcelona

TL;DR

The analysis explores the language policy in Barcelona and its impact on vaccination messaging, highlighting the use of English as a lingua franca, machine translation, and the absence of a formal healthcare communication policy.

Transcript

Here we're looking particularly at  the way Covid 19 vaccination messaging   was delivered in Barcelona basically in 2021  but some of the data come from the current   moment in 2022. We're looking at this from  the perspective of translation policy to know,   as Reine Meylaerts suggests, whether a language  policy does indeed include a translation... Read More

Key Insights

• 😒 Barcelona's language policy aims to normalize the use of Catalan but faces challenges with immigrant families preferring Spanish.
• 💁 Vaccination information needs to address immigrant families, and English serves as a lingua franca to reach them.
• 💁 Machine translation is used for providing information in multiple languages, but errors and outdated translations hinder trust and effectiveness.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the language policy in Catalonia?

Catalonia has a co-official language policy with Spanish and Catalan, aiming to normalize and restore the use of Catalan to the same level as Spanish.

Q: What challenges arise in vaccination messaging in Barcelona?

The conflict between Catalan and Spanish arises over the language spoken by immigrant families. Since vaccination requires a high percentage of the population, deciding which language to use for communication becomes crucial.

Q: How is English used in vaccination messaging in Barcelona?

Among the foreign population, around 66% claim to understand English, making it a lingua franca to reach immigrant families. English is used alongside Catalan, Spanish, and French on the Barcelona City Hall website.

Q: What are the issues with machine translation in vaccination messaging?

Machine translation is used for providing information in different languages, but errors and outdated translations reduce trust and the effectiveness of the message. It also lacks integration with translation technology and efficient updates.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Catalonia has a co-official language policy with Spanish and Catalan, aimed at normalizing the use of Catalan.

• Immigrant families in Catalonia are encouraged to learn Catalan, but most prefer Spanish for mobility and employment reasons.

• Vaccination messaging in Barcelona provides information in Catalan, Spanish, English, and French, using machine translation, but machine errors and outdated information reduce trust and effectiveness.