City of Sunnyvale

Document Translation Guidelines

I.  Purpose  

The purpose of these guidelines is to assist staff in determining which City documents should receive priority for translation into other languages, and to identify which languages those documents should be translated into.  

II.  Sunnyvale Demographics

Sunnyvale is a culturally rich and linguistically diverse community.  The 2000 Census reports that Sunnyvale's population is 46.5 percent White, 32.3 percent Asian, 15 percent Hispanic, and 6.2 percent Other. Thirty-nine percent of Sunnyvale's residents are immigrants, and 46 percent of households speak a primary language other than English. In April 2004, the Sunnyvale School District reported that 31 percent of its students were English-language learners.

It would be a mistake to assume that Sunnyvale’s foreign-born community members are not fluent in English. However, 9,231 adults in Sunnyvale report that they speak English “not well” or “not at all,” and approximately 4,595 households are “linguistically isolated.”  Of those 4,595 households, 1,081 are Spanish speaking, and 3,514 speak an Asian or Pacific Island language. The term “linguistically isolated” refers to households that have no members over age 14 who speak English “very well”. 

III. Determining Which City Documents Should be Translated

Since external communication priorities may vary according to the types of services provided, the City’s department directors determine which documents are most appropriate for translation in their respective departments. Limited resources require that good judgment be used in making document prioritization decisions.  In general, the following types of City documents should be given priority for language translation:

• Documents that address serious health and/or safety issues,
• Documents that explain how the City of Sunnyvale works,
• Documents that identify City services, and how to access them.

Department directors should build document translation costs into their departmental budgets, as appropriate and as resources allow. 

IV. Languages for Translation

At the time of the 2000 Census, the two most commonly spoken non-English languages in Sunnyvale were Spanish and Chinese.   

When documents are translated, they should be translated into both languages.  This requirement can be waived by the Communications Office on a case by case basis.

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