Avantpage Translates California Ballot Pamphlet into Six Languages.

Business Editors

DAVIS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2002

Avantpage has just completed the translation and deployment of the California Voter Information Guides in six languages, now available online at http://www.voterguide.ss.ca.gov/home.asp. In addition to the online version, 370,000 Spanish Guides have been printed and distributed, along with 140,000 Ballot Guides in Chinese, 105,000 in Vietnamese, 80,000 in Tagalog, 40,000 in Korean and 20,000 in Japanese.

"Today, we don't have to go far from home to find people whose best language is something other than English," points out Avantpage CEO Luis Miguel. "In fact, I have neighbors who migrated here from Mexico about 20 years ago. Having documents and resources in their own language is invaluable to them. And it strengthens our community as a whole."

Avantpage has a two-year contract with the California Office of State Publishing to provide all translation needs for the myriad State entities that it works for. Avantpage has also provided translations of print and online materials for the California State Board of Equalization. The Board has translated a number of its documents into 15 different languages.

According to Board of Equalization Media Relations Officer Sherilyn Larsen, "The rich diversity of California dictates information and guidance be provided to taxpayers in a variety of mediums. The Board of Equalization is committed to its document translation program and views it as an important avenue to inform and educate California's taxpayers."

Many other state departments, California corporations, and large nonprofits are coming to Avantpage as they experience a significant increase in the need for translations. And it's not difficult to see why. According to the 2000 Census, no single racial or ethnic group comprises a majority in California. Thirty-eight percent of California's students come to school speaking a native language other than English. And, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, racial and ethnic minority populations will account for nearly 90% of the total growth in the overall U.S. population from 1995 to 2050.

Avantpage (http://www.avantpage.com) is a translation agency with capabilities for translations and desktop publishing into the minority languages of the US and the major world markets.