Holocaust Memorial Day, 27th January
What: Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is an international day of commemoration for the six million Jews and others who died at the hands of the Nazis, as well as those who have since died in genocides elsewhere in the world.
Where: HMD can be marked anywhere in the world.
Why: The date of 27 January was chosen to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, by the Soviet Red Army. The day serves as a reminder of our shared history, and why it is important to remain vigilant to injustice. The day is not only about avoiding future genocide but also resisting persecution and discrimination. With anti-Semitism and other racism on the rise, it remains as important as ever.
How: Anyone can hold an HMD activity. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust website has advice about how, where and when, as well as free images and resources. Visit their site for more information on the day and how to host an event.
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Celebrations around the world: Lohri, 13th January
TLS delves deeper into the festivals and events celebrated by different cultures around the world. This month we look at Lohri, which takes place on 13th January..
What: Lohri is a celebration honouring Agni, the god of fire, which marks the winter solstice and gives thanks for the harvest, which is just beginning to come to fruition in January. Festivities take place during the month of Paush or Magh, so the date is not fixed in the Gregorian (western) calendar and changes each year.
Where: Lohri is celebrated mainly in the Punjab and Haryana regions of India, however the Indian diaspora hold celebrations across the world.
Why: As well as giving thanks for the harvest, Lohri celebrations often also refence a folk hero. In 16th century Punjab, there was a Rajput peasant called Dulla Bhattiwala. He came from a long line of rebels against Mughal rule and was similarly inclined. Bhattiwala would save girls who had been sold into slavery, often marrying them off and paying the dowry himself. He is sometimes called the Robin Hood of Punjab! His name is celebrated in a traditional Punjabi song that is performed during Lohri.
How: The centre of Lohri celebrations is the bonfire, around which people dance and sing special songs. Families exchange gifts and sweets, and eat makki ki roti (corn based roti) and sarson ka saag (spinach, mustard leaves and fenugreek cooked together).
Are you celebrating Lohri? Please get in touch and tell us all about it by emailing nicole.kershaw@newham.gov.uk.
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Are you getting the most from your bookings? Don’t miss our free training
Due to the success of our previous free 'Introduction to TLS Services' virtual training sessions, we are now offering them regularly, on the last Wednesday of every month throughout 2022.
The training explains all the various types of interpreting available, and which services are best suited to different contexts. We will look in detail at how and when to book an interpreter, the best practice for working alongside interpreters and provide an opportunity to ask any questions with a member of our team. Participants can also get a certificate of attendance once they have completed the training along with a TLS Training Information Pack.
The virtual training takes just half an hour and you can sign up via our Eventbrite here.
If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Kershaw by emailing nicole.kershaw@newham.gov.uk
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UK language industry health check tells a positive story
The Association of Translation Companies has published research into the performance of the UK language industry in 2021, revealing a very positive picture, despite the dual impact of Brexit and Covid-19.
While very few businesses have thrived in the last 18 months, the research suggests language service providers have generally made good decisions and showed the kind of flexibility that has served them and their customers well; for example, 56% of companies have recorded growth.
This is certainly our experience at The Language Shop, and it seems we are reflected in the ATC’s comments: “What truly stands out in this year’s survey is the robust and scrappy mid-market segment which makes up the bulk of the UK language services industry. Companies have largely been pushing the right buttons, focusing on their areas of expertise and making smart use of language technology to service their clients.”
To read the whole report, click here.
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Celebrations around the world: Diwali, 2nd - 6th November
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. It takes place over five days, around the beginning of November.
Diwali falls at the beginning of the Hindu new year and celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, both in the sense of the fireworks and diwas that are used to illuminate the joyous occasion and in the metaphorical victory of knowledge over ignorance. Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, is honoured during the festival, and celebrations are also linked to the famous legend of lovers Rama and Sita, who were welcomed back from their exile in the forest with a row of diwa lamps.
Each of Diwali’s five days has its own name and is celebrated differently. Dhanteras is for cleaning the home and buying new items for the home. Choti Diwali is when people decorate their homes and create rangoli designs on the floors. The third day, the most important, is Diwali, and this is when homage is paid to Lakshmi, lights are lit, firework displays are held and families get together to eat. Padwa is for husbands and wives to exchange gifts, and the final day of Bhai Duj is for siblings to celebrate their bond.
Are you celebrating Diwali? Please get in touch and tell us how! We would love to hear from you, email nicole.kershaw@newham.gov.uk
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Language industry remains buoyant despite pandemic
Slator, which provides intelligence on the language industry, has reported a huge surge in bookings in the last months of 2021.
The Language Industry Job Index (LIJI) was launched in July 2018, and has recorded growth of 65 points since then. A vast 55 points have been recorded since the beginning of 2021, bringing the index to its highest point ever.
This is encouraging news for the language industry, which has weathered the pandemic. We hope to see this trend continue in 2022!
Read about this in more detail at slator.com.
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TLS specialist interpreting conference a success
On Thursday 14th October TLS and partners from the NHS North East London Foundation Trust joined forces to provide our first ever Health and Social Care Interpreting conference.
A diverse range of stakeholders gave presentations, including a number of interpreters and representatives from the Trust, such as Harjit Bansal, the Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Jaimin Patel, Managing Director of TLS. An interactive session and Q&A gave the audience a chance to get involved, and the day finished with a topical talk on interpreting for refugees and asylum seekers.
If you missed this one, keep an eye on TLS' news as we are hoping to run a smaller interpreting conference in the new year!
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Celebrations of the dead around the world
Around the northern hemisphere, many different cultures take part in celebrations of the dead at the point where summer turns to autumn. Among these are: Samhain (Gaelic), Dziady (Slavic), Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)(Mexican), Hop-tu-naa (Isle of Man), Halloween/All Souls Day (European and American), Calan Gaeaf (Welsh).
Pre-Christian cultures in Europe ushered in the dark days of autumn and winter with these festivals, many believing that during this time of transition, spirits could walk the earth. There is still debate about why this coincides with the Christian three-day remembrance of the dead (All Hallow’s/Saints’ Eve, All Hallows’/Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day), which has even been blended with Mesoamerican culture in the Mexican Dia de los Muertos.
Every celebration varies in its specifics, however most involve fire and light - either used as guides for spirits or as a way to ward them off - offerings to the dead in the form of food and drink, and special prayers. Halloween and Dia de los Muertos have been popularised and have evolved alongside modern life with their own, more recent traditions.
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NELFT and TLS present 'Interpreting in Health and Social Care' online conference
NELFT Medical education department, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team and The Language Shop are pleased to present an exciting online conference on Thursday 14th October, designed to bring together professionals to be informed about the latest developments in interpreting and translation services.
The aim of the conference is to promote collaboration and working partnership between health & social care professionals, interpreters and service users. The conference will increase awareness of the interpreting and translating services that are available to all staff; share good practice; improve accessibility for our patients and service users; minimise risk across services.
The topics covered will include:
- Working with refugees, asylum seekers and interpreters
- Case studies
- Social care perspective
- Patient perspective from the deaf community
- Interpreter perspective
- Language Shop
- NELFT staff survey results
- TLS new service
- changes
- Working with interpreters
- Presentation and interactive session
Attendance to this event will meet your compliance with the mandatory equality & diversity inclusion training.
Date: Thursday 14th October
Time: 9:30- 15:30
Location: Zoom
Audience: All NELFT multi professional staff and Social Care Practitioners
Cost: Free for all
Please email nicole.kershaw@newham.gov.uk to register.
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The Language Shop provides interpreting services for Covid-19 vaccination centres
Back in February TLS launched a scheme to support vaccination centres within the North East London Foundation Trust area, We provided telephone and video interpreting services to bridge the communication gap so that non-English speakers could understand all of the information regarding Covid-19 vaccinations and give their informed consent to receive the jab.
We expanded this by adding British Sign Language (BSL) support to our offering in May. This allowed deaf patients receiving vaccines at centres in Chingford, Romford and Barking access to a remote BSL interpreter who could answer any questions or concerns they may have. As time is critical when vaccinating so many people, we ensured deaf patients received this support within 90 seconds of making the request.
We are proud to be able to play a part in helping the vaccination programme by making vaccine information more accessible, so that everyone can help keep themselves and each other safe during the pandemic.
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