London Connects, London's e-government agency, is working to develop an online multi-lingual tool to help enable members of ethnic communities to participate more fully in local government.
The first stage of the project, known as Language Connects, will create a glossary of around 3,000 terms in six or seven languages, covering the specialist terminology of local government and its services. This is intended to be phased in over two years, with an initial four languages, including English, due for completion within a year. It is expected that the end-product will include a soundtrack to help users who may have literacy difficulties. Other languages are planned to be added in the future, with the inclusion of learning and information material seen as a possible further development.
London Connects is developing the project in partnership with local authorities and the European Language Initiative (TELI), who aim to make the glossary available via their websites so that it can be accessed and freely downloaded all over the UK.
Quelle: europemedia
