Continuous immigration throughout the globe is reflected in a greater diversity of languages spoken in many communities throughout the United States and many other nations. As many as 200 different languages are spoken in Chicago alone, 140 in California, 80 in Palm Beach, 67 in Tempe, AZ, and 60 in Plano, TX. Turkish, Arabic, and Creole French are currently spoken in France, while Italian, Spanish, Greek, Turkish, and Portuguese are spoken in Germany.

The slower pace in assimilating and acquiring the majority language of many immigrants has implications for effective communication between clinicians and clients and their families. There are currently approximately 2,000 or 2% of ASHA members who have identified themselves as bilingual clinicians, but the clinician’s other language may not match that of the client.

Collaborating with an interpreter/translator is therefore necessary to bridge communication between client and clinician. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act states that clients must be assessed in their primary language, but there are no guidelines or procedures on how the team of language interpreter/ translator-clinician should work together.