Sunnyvale Leads the Way on Language Inclusivity

The City of Sunnyvale uses the AI translation software Wordly to ensure that non-native English speakers have access to city meetings.

As the need for language access increases, Sunnyvale is leading the charge with the use of AI software.

Last month, Wordly, an AI translation service, released its report on language access in local government.

Language access, according to the report, is a growing need, with 61% of cities reporting a growing population of non-native English speakers. Meanwhile, only 11% consider their public meetings “very inclusive,” largely due to budget and logistical barriers.

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“The urgency is increasing,” said Dave Deasy, chief marketing officer at Wordly. “The number of people where English is not their first language is increasing, and the number of languages is increasing.”

Not only does Wordly translate more than 60 languages, it also offers transcription for the hearing impaired, helping cities meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Additionally, the service can be leveraged beyond just meeting access, including training, community outreach and law enforcement.

Deasy pointed to Wordly’s use during press conferences for Los Angeles wildfires as an illustration of the technology’s power.

Since 2023, Sunnyvale has been using Wordly. With the appointment of a non-English-speaking human rights commissioner, the city began looking into a way to streamline communication for that commissioner.

Once the city established that Wordly met its needs, city employees began incorporating the software into its city council meetings. Worldly is available at other meetings upon request.

“It aligns with council priorities … for everyone to participate in government,” said Sunnyvale City Clerk David Carnahan. “This is a meshing of technology and need … It really just helps us be more inclusive in these meetings.”

The city used Wordly for Mayor Larry Klein’s state of the city address. While the city hasn’t used Wordly for other communications, Carnahan said the city could also use it for things such as public outreach for development projects if needed.

The biggest benefit Wordly offers is how cost-effective it is.

Carnahan said Wordly is 55% less expensive than hiring a Spanish interpreter. Further, he said, it provides real-time communication, allowing interlocutors to have more fluid conversations without a lag, better communicating tone and emotion.

Wordly is a “good tool for [the city] to have in its toolbox,” he added.

Anecdotally, Carnahan said it seems as if more non-English speakers have been applying for the city’s boards and commissions since rolling out Wordly. The response to the use of Wordly has been positive.

In addition to the cost savings, the top benefit, according to Wordly’s report, is increased collaboration between the public and governments.

With the rise in the need for translation, other sectors have also been adopting translation tools.

Houses of worship have increasingly been employing technology such as Wordly, Dease said. School districts have also been leveraging it for parent-teacher conferences, parent-teacher association and school board meetings as well as graduation ceremonies.

As an added bonus, Deasy said Wordly’s use tends to also have a domino effect.

“As soon as a community in a certain area adopts Wordly, we soon get calls from neighboring communities,” he said.

Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com