The IMIA is committed to all languages and dialects which require interpreting services worldwide. Minority languages, also called languages of lesser diffusion (in the US), are those languages for which there are not many speakers in the local country but for which there are real language access needs and for whom those speakers have an equal right for language access. There is also the limited availability of interpreters for those languages, and for training, hiring opportunities and testing opportunities for those minority language interpreters.

If you speak a language or dialect that is not listed here, then you are a minority language interpreter. Some of our members are majority and minority language interpreters as they might speak several languages and dialects. If you speak ONE minority language not on the lists below, depending on where you practice (within or outside the US) please consider yourself a minority language interpreter and please help us promote the professional development, training, and hiring practices to meet the minority language needs of medical interpreters and the patients they serve.

How does the IMIA define minority languages?

Outside the United States we will define them as interpreters who do not speak the top 10 languages of the world:

Mandarin
Spanish
English
Hindi-Urdu (Hindustani)
Arabic
Bengali
Portuguese
Russian
Japanese
Punjabi

(see list at Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_languages_by_number_of_native_speakers)

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Inside the United States

In the United States, these would be languages that are not considered in the top 20 category within the US. If you speak a language or dialect that is not listed here, then you are a minority language interpreter. Some of our members are majority and minority language interpreters as they might speak several languages and dialects. If you speak ONE minority language not on the list below, please consider yourself a minority language interpreter and please help us promote the professional development, training, and hiring practices to meet minority language needs.

Here are the top 20 languages spoken in the U.S:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_United_States (some adjustment is required based on the 2010 Census)

English - 215 million
Spanish - 28 million
Chinese languages - 2.0 million + (mostly Cantonese speakers, with a growing group of Mandarin speakers)
French - 1.6 million
German - 1.4 million (High German) + German dialects like Hutterite German, Texas German, Pennsylvania German, Plautdietsch
Italian - 1.3 million
Tagalog - 1.2 million + (Most Filipinos may also know other Philippine languages, e.g. Ilokano, Pangasinan, Bikol languages, and Visayan languages)
Vietnamese - 1.01 million
Korean - 890,000
Russian - 710,000
Polish - 670,000
Arabic - 610,000
Portuguese - 560,000
Japanese - 480,000
French Creole - 450,000 (mostly Louisiana Creole French - 334,500)
Greek - 370,000
Hindi - 320,000
Persian - 310,000 (Farsi)
Urdu - 260,000
Gujarati - 240,000
Armenian - 200,000

The IMIA is seeking volunteers who want to help the organization do outreach to medical interpreters in minority languages not on the lists above. Please email info@imiaweb.org if you are interested in helping us do just that.

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Books on Minority Languages
http://www.imiaweb.org/divisions/minoritylanguagebooks.asp

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IMIA is currently looking for a Minority Languages Division  Chairperson
For more information please email info@imiaweb.org.

Serving in a chapter, committee or division leadership role provides enormous opportunities, both professionally and personally. IMIA Chairs frequently find themselves becoming more successful in their own careers as they develop additional skills, make useful business connections, and share ideas with other division members. The IMIA Administration provides support and mentoring for their success. Preference shall be given to candidates with previous involvement in the activities of the organization.

Minority Languages Division Chairperson
VACANT

Vice Chairperson
VACANT

Chairperson Responsibilities:
- To represent the IMIA members in the division/committee
- To promote the profession and the IMIA organization to their division/committee members
- Act as a liaison between the IMIA committee/division members with the IMIA Board of Directors
- Moderate periodic conference calls with members of their division/committee (could be monthly, bimonthly or quarterly)
- To attend periodic IMIA Chairpersons meetings via conference call
- To moderate our yearly Division/Committee face-to-face meeting at IMIA conference or designate an adequate moderator
- To agree to a term of three years concurrent with Board elections
- Update the specific division/committee webpage on IMIA website with information relevant to the initiatives of that division/committee interests
- Other initiatives as deemed necessary for the specific needs of each committee/division
- Chairpersons receive mentoring, assistance, and support to accomplish their goals, by counting on a Chairperson Liaison and also by the Executive Director and the Administrator of the IMIA

To Apply for an IMIA Chairperson Position, See the Requirements (same as for IMIA Representation):
http://www.imiaweb.org/uploads/docs/Requirements_for_IMIA_Representation.pdf
 
Vice Chairperson Responsibilities:
- To assist and work closely with  the Chairperson in all their responsibilities as requested
- To assume the duties of the Chairperson when the chairperson is not present or available
- To apply for the chairperson position when the chairperson ends their term
 
To Apply for an IMIA Chairperson Position, See the Requirements of the Chairperson. All is the same except that only one letter of recommendation is needed, not two.
 
If you have any questions about applying please email info@imiaweb.org
 
Further information about the work of the committee or division, please email the appropriate chairperson.