GALA, NCLIS Form First-Ever Language Lobby in the U.S.

From Stephan Lins, CEO of Medialocate USA, Inc.:

Just a short while ago I had an hour-long, one-on-one lunch conversation with Dr. Bill Rivers, Executive Director of National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS).

Our fellow colleague Laura Brandon, COO of the Globalization and Localization Association (GALA), suggested that Bill and I meet so he could see Medialocate’s operations here in Pacific Grove, CA…

…and because both of us have long been strong proponents of increasing the image and collective voice of language professionals here in the U.S.

I am very pleased to share with you the following GALA & NCLIS news release announcing the newly-formed American Language Enterprise Advocacy (ALEA).

ALEA promises to be a powerful voice for the language industry on Capitol Hill.

GALA, NCLIS Form First-Ever Language Lobby in the United States

MIAMI, March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — The Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) today announced the formation of the American Language Enterprise Advocacy (ALEA), the first-ever lobby to represent the interests of the language industry in the United States.

A joint initiative between GALA and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS), ALEA will give a national voice to the country’s $25 billion professional language enterprise, which includes individuals, companies and organizations that enable communication among different cultures and languages.

The language industry is growing several times faster than the U.S. economy and accounts for more than half a million jobs. Overall, language services leverage some $1.5 trillion in U.S. trade.

“Language is integral to our national interest, and it’s time we made ourselves heard in Washington,” said Hans Fenstermacher, CEO of GALA.

“For too long, language has been an afterthought for government and business leaders who make policy decisions that not only undermine the importance of language competence, but seriously hinder our ability to compete on a global scale. The costs to U.S. institutions and businesses are enormous and, for the most part, completely avoidable.”

Dr. Bill Rivers, Executive Director of NCLIS, added, “The language enterprise needs a national voice because language is the key to success in the 21st century. Globalization and the information economy depend on the entire language enterprise to function.”

Read the rest of this news release here >

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