正視雙語服務
三藩市訪谷區華裔居民最近提出要求警局增設中英雙語專員，警察局長及警委會必須正視。
訪谷區華裔居民對治安特別關心，早在十多年前，便由熱心的華裔居民發起邀請警察局定期派員與居民開會，聽取民眾對治安問題的意見。筆者當年也經常到訪谷採訪警民社區會議，察覺到高效率的會議翻譯特別重要，如果沒有翻譯，相信很多居民不會參加會議。當年沒有法例要求市府部門要提供雙語服務，所以會議翻譯都是由熱心居民負責。想不到十八年後，市府先後兩度通過雙語服務法例，華裔居民仍停留在爭取翻譯階段。是社區爭取不力，抑或是政府官員沒有正視社區的需要呢？
不諳英語的訪谷區華裔居民李希裕（音譯）不久前遭到警員入屋開槍擊斃。事件起因是李在當晚突然情緒失控襲擊屋內另一名住客，在受傷住客逃離現場後，多名不懂華語的警員進入只有死者一人的屋子內，經一番對峙，最終將李擊斃。在彼此言語不通的情況下，警員是依據什麼判斷要將李置諸死地？在沒有第三者受到威脅之時，警員是否有必要「速戰速決」，為何不等待懂華語的警員到場採取勸戒方式化解矛盾？如果當時死者能與說華語的警員對話，結局會否不一樣呢？
又日前警察局長到華埠與社區人士進行答問會，警局同樣沒有提供翻譯。雖然事後有解釋指這是由社區機構發出邀請，所以翻譯應由社區提供。但作為公僕的警察局長和出席的警察委員真的要這般計較嗎？為民服務的誠意何在？
享受平等市政服務是每一名居民的權利，不應受到語言的障礙。警委會不必過度敏感地自辯，把事情政治化，以為依法要求翻譯服務是針對警方或警委本身。社區只是要求平等的市政服務，不論是誰當局長或警委，這些居民權益都不能被忽視。況且，訪谷區居民已經等了超過十八年了。
5 comments:
Language service is supposed to be good to certain groups of people, but it is not necessary effective.
It also requires resource to be allocated. No wonder state of California is in bad shape. You can take the written test at DMV in several other languages other than English.
There are occasions that perfect translation is not achievable.
It is better to read world famous literature is its original language.
If you are native Chinese reader and read English, why you want to read the "Three Kingdom" in English translation.
If you native English reader and read Chinese, why you want to read "Romeo and Juliet" in Chinese translation?
In fact, a lot of the official translation have faults in it.
In the Northeastern part of Canada, you have to know French to
live in that community. No French, no service.
It is your responsibility to know the language to communicate.
You better learn the language. It is better for you in long term.
You are not the supreme being to have a translator to accompany you wherever you go.
感謝上面一位朋友的留言. 您所講的道理都是很多人講過的,也很大義澟然. 入鄉就要隨俗,住人屋簷下就要低頭. 在美國生活懂英語有多好有多實用,是不必爭論和教育的事情,就連新上岸的新移民也即時知曉.
不過,回歸現實,是每一個移民都能即時掌握足夠生活應用的英語能力嗎? 在學的過程中,或是沒有能學的那一群,如老人或生活所逼要不停工作謀生的人. 我們可以說:你自己不學好英文,所以你沒有權利期望得到同一樣的政府服務嗎?雖然繳稅是不必學英文的,不懂英文也要交稅,新移民也交同一樣的稅.
看看三藩市社區大學的ESL英語課,不都幾乎全是華人學生嗎?由十幾到八十幾都有. 請不要看不起需要語言服務的人. 融入社會是需要一個過程的. 但人權或生活權是不能附加上言語條件的.
美國就是一個移民社會,既然是一個民主自由社會,社會制度就必須跟著人民的需求而轉變. 當社區上出現一批有這種需要的民眾時,政府便有義務去服務.這是責任,不是福利!!!!!
Language transaction services only work effectively when the situation is static. Hospitals, court houses, United Nation meetings, Mr. President visits to China.
In a life or death, firearms involved situation, you better know the language by yourself and be cooperative. The police has guide lines to carry out their duties. When conditions met, they fire without hesitation.
Police officers are human beings too. They have their own "the other half" and children as well.
It is better to kill suspects disobeying orders than get yourself killed.
The officer would rather let the Police chief to handle the after situation. The city will pay the victim. An over-rated funeral ceremony is just for show. The officer would rather go home every night to join his/her loved ones.
Just put yourself in the shoe of the police officer, you will have a different view about the situation.
Years ago, in the bay area, police answer the call to a house and saw an Asian hold stick as if "Bruce Lee" did. Police fired and killed the person because the object dis-obey orders.
It turned out that the object was under influence of alcohol.
The white police thought that any Asian holding sticks must a Kung Fu master like Bruce Lee. Just follow orders and instructions, so the Asian got killed. Sad? it is. But whose fault? I let you decide.
Police brutality? No, sir.
Stupid Asian? Yes, especially under substance abuse.
Looking for trouble, you got it.
你好, 大概是先前同一位先生吧!
你所提及的Bruce Lee個案,不用我說了,死者的家屬控告警方,結果法庭判警方需要賠償,錯在警員.已成案例.
我不想再就此爭辯下去,如果你認為經專業訓練,持多種致命武器的警員,比一時情緒失控的平民百姓的生命更寶貴,更值得保護. 真的沒有必要爭辯. 因為我為你的言論感到極度心寒和悲哀.
請原諒我直言,請經常到訪本站.
對不起，我先前的回應用了”先生”二字，是魯莽了．倘有不敬處，請這位朋友見諒．
Post a Comment