About Words Beyond Borders
The volunteers of Words Beyond Borders assist both organizations and individuals in New York City. If you are in need of translators or interpreters, please e-mail words.beyond.borders.club@nyu.edu. We will contact you shortly with more information.
To join our listserve, which regularly provides information about various opportunities, please send your name, e-mail address, and language(s) spoken to words.beyond.borders.club@nyu.edu.
Borders: Language and Beyond
As one of the largest cities in the world, New York City attracts thousands of immigrants from around the globe each year. Despite the fact that this creates a culturally fertile melting pot, it more prominently highlights the dramatic social borders and disparities that are created along cultural lines. One of the forms that these barriers assume is that of language. In many cases language serves as a source of power which impedes and prohibits those who can not function within its constraints.
Throughout New York City, whether in hospitals, elementary schools, or prisons, those individuals who have dificulty communicating in English are at an alarmingly large disadvantage compared to those who are comfortable with the language. Many times language barriers are a direct product of socio-economic factors and in such a fast-paced environment it can be both psychologically as well as physically devastating to lack the ability to communicate.
Where Do We Come In?
Words Beyond Borders is a student-run organization that was founded by former NYU student Lauren Browne in 2002.
The aim of Words Beyond Borders is to bridge this communication gap. Our mission is to dissolve the barriers of communication across the multitude of distinct cultures coexisting in New York City.
Our program, which is affiliated with hospitals, clinics, schools, outreach organizations, and other public institutions in New York City and its outlying boroughs, is composed of volunteer bilingual or multilingual interpreters. Many of our volunteers choose from a variety of sites that are in need of interpretational services and then volunteer at that site on a weekly basis. Other volunteers work on an on-call basis while others are part of our new Document Translation Team. More information on our opportunities can be found on our Sites page. With over 700 members speaking a wide variety of languages and a growing site list, Words Beyond Borders is growing into a formidably influential organization.
We are providing our services not only to organizations but also to individuals. If you are an organization or individual who would like to request an interpreter or translator, please Contact Us.
How You Can Help…
Although our program is largely composed of New York University undergraduate students, it is neither necessary to be a student nor to be affiliated with NYU in order to volunteer. We are always looking for more help in any and all languages. All that is needed is a good command of English (both spoken and written) and a good command of one other language.
In order to volunteer please contact one of our officers, or Committee Board Members. Becoming a member of Words Beyond Borders is an amazing opportunity to help fight social inequity so don’t hesitate to sign up.
Students who are interested in starting a Words Beyond Borders chapter at their own university should contact Lauren Browne at lbb224@nyu.edu or lauren.browne@duke.edu.