PROJECT BRIEF

BACKGROUND

St. Louis, Missouri is a city with a remarkable degree of demographic diversity. From a governmental perspective, this unique character has challenged the city’s ability to provide equitable service and an inclusive environment for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). Digital tools for translation–including those powered by artificial intelligence (AI)–have expanded in number and scope, providing one route for governmental entities to efficiently improve their language access capabilities. However, the efficacy of these tools remains poorly demonstrated and robust, generalizable guidelines for their implementation are lacking.

AIMS

Any initiative to incorporate digital translation tools into governmental services will require an in-depth assessment of needs, opportunities, and costs. This project explored the interface of digital tools and language access for the city of St. Louis and makes two targeted recommendations to address current challenges.

METHODOLOGY

The project surveyed the landscape of language access within the City of St. Louis and the United States. The investigation was supplemented by an exploration of current translation technology trends. The team also interviewed stakeholders from the St. Louis language access community to better anchor research with local perspectives. 

DELIVERABLES

Project deliverables included (1) a thorough summary of recent trends in language access and machine translation, written with accessibility for non-specialists in mind, (2) a set of timely case studies from other cities’ attempts to incorporate machine translation tools, (3) a deep analysis of current strengths and gaps in the St. Louis language access landscape, and (4) two concrete policy recommendations revolving around the creation of a government-community hybrid “language access committee” and the adoption of an AI-powered translation tool, Wordly, for city council meetings.

IMPACT AND FUTURE WORK

As the city’s demographics continue to diversify, St. Louis will need to continue to evolve its language access policies and infrastructures. This report provides an up-to-date picture of the local language access landscape to keep policymakers working in this space well-informed and while preparing them to adjust to ongoing trends. It also shines a light on neglected areas that may require attention. By implementing these recommendations, the City of St. Louis will improve language access while also laying a stable foundation for future initiatives.