Sept. 30, 2024

Dear Team DPS,

For today’s International Interpretation and Translation Day, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the excellent work of our Multilingual Communications team. These dedicated professionals connect DPS schools and departments with families and students through exceptional interpretation and translation services in over 180 languages. With 40.8% of DPS students speaking a language other than English at home, the work of our interpreters and translators helps bridge the communication and equity gap for multilingual students.

What is the difference between interpreters and translators? Professional interpreters handle real-time, spoken conversations with precision and neutrality. In fast-paced and complex situations, they provide clear and unbiased services while preserving the tone, structure and meaning of communications between parties. Translators, on the other hand, aim for translating written texts that read as naturally as the original materials. They navigate cultural nuances, including idiomatic expressions and slang that may not translate literally.

These professionals train rigorously to maintain neutrality and ensure compliance with a strict code of ethics and U.S. Department of Justice policies. While it may be tempting to use AI or another speaker to communicate with families, there is no substitute for professional human interpreters and translators.

Please join me in thanking the DPS Multilingual Communications team for making sure all families have equal access to the information they need regardless of their preferred language. Thank you for your incredible commitment to serving our multilingual students and community!

Sincerely,

Bill Good
Chief of Communications