{{Short description|American translation company based in Monterey, California}} '''LanguageLine Solutions''' is an American company headquartered in Monterey, California, with a strong UK presence provided by their London, UK offices.<ref>{{cite web |title=LanguageLine UK Offices |url=https://www.languageline.com/en-gb/contact-language-line-solutions |website=LanguageLine UK |publisher=LanguageLine UK}}</ref> It provides on-demand and onsite language interpretation and document translation services worldwide for law enforcement, healthcare organizations, legal courts, schools, and businesses in over 290 languages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.languageline.com/company|title=Company Information | LanguageLine Solutions}}</ref> LanguageLine claims to have more than 30,000 clients.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.languageline.com/company/who-we-are|title = Who we are | LanguageLine Solutions}}</ref> LanguageLine is the largest interpretation services provider in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.commonsenseadvisory.com/Default.aspx?Contenttype=ArticleDetAD&tabID=63&Aid=37172&moduleId=390|title = CSA Research > Data and Research for Global Business Professionals}}</ref>
The company's global workforce is claimed to include over 25,000 interpreters who handle more than 87 million calls each year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.languageline.com/interpreting/on-demand |title=Home |website=languageline.com}}</ref>
In addition to phone interpreting, the company also offers video remote and onsite interpreting, translation and localization services, and language proficiency testing and training.
== Competitors == They compete with other language specialists like Straker translations, One Planet, and Spot On Interpreting.
==Company history== In its earlier years, the company was known as '''CALL''' ('''C'''ommunication '''A'''nd '''L'''anguage '''L'''ine) and was formed by Jeff Munks and Michael McFerrin. Jeff Munks was a San Jose, California, policeman<ref>{{cite web|title=Munks, Jeffrey|url=http://uk.reuters.com/business/quotes/officerProfile?symbol=CHN.V&officerId=695311|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095646/http://uk.reuters.com/business/quotes/officerProfile?symbol=CHN.V&officerId=695311|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016| work= China Education Resources Inc |agency=Reuters| publisher= Reuters.com| accessdate=1 December 2011|quote=Mr. Munks was a co-founder of Language Line Services, a company which allows interpreters in 140 languages to be available via the telephone to support virtually any application.}}</ref> Michael McFerrin mastered the Vietnamese language as a US Marine stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He returned to Northern California and worked as a refugee advocate.<ref>{{cite news| last= Beers |first= David |title= Tower of Babel |work= San Francisco Examiner| date= 8 June 1986 }}</ref> The two men founded Language Line Services in 1982 to help police officers communicate with 65,000 Vietnamese refugees.<ref>{{cite web| last= Munks| first= Jeff| title= Jeff Munks| url= http://www.spoke.com/info/pEtBV0N/JeffMunks| publisher= Spoke Software| accessdate= 29 November 2011}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
AT&T acquired the service on February 14, 1990, as a strategic business unit. AT&T Language Line Services received significant investments in technology and interpreter quality, creating standards for the emerging telephone interpreting industry. For a decade, the company served as a vital resource for business, government and health care clients who faced changing demographics and state and federal laws and regulations in the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.languageline.com/company|title=Company Information | LanguageLine Solutions}}</ref>
In 1999, the company became an independent entity, today known as LanguageLine Solutions. In addition to phone interpreting, the company also began offering video remote and onsite interpreting, translation and localization services, and language proficiency testing and training.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.languageline.com/company|title=Company Information | LanguageLine Solutions}}</ref>
In 2006, the company acquired Language Line in the UK, which had been founded in 1995 by social entrepreneur Michael Young. At that time it was the largest telephone interpreting business in Europe.
Scott W. Klein was named CEO on June 21, 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=335907&privcapId=23780093|title = Scott W Klein, Language Line Inc: Profile and Biography|website = Bloomberg News}}</ref>
On September 16, 2016, LanguageLine Solutions was acquired by Teleperformance, a French company. Teleperformance has stated that LanguageLine will continue to operate as a stand-alone business, headquartered in Monterey, California.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160821005024/en/Agreement-Teleperformance-Acquire-LanguageLine-Solutions-LLC|title=Agreement by Teleperformance to Acquire LanguageLine Solutions LLC|date=22 August 2016}}</ref>
==Unpaid Wages== LanguageLine Solutions was ordered in 2015 by the US government to pay nearly $1.5 million in missed wages, back pay, and damages to over 2,400 interpreters. According to the US Department of Labor, LanguageLine Solutions was in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the McNamara–O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slator.com/industry-news/uncle-sam-slaps-1-5-million-fine-on-languageline-solutions/|title = Uncle Sam Slaps $1.5 Million Fine on LanguageLine Solutions|date = 23 December 2015}}</ref>
==Notes== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.sbnonline.com/2009/06/speaking-of-success-how-to-keep-your-team-focused-on-getting-better/?full=1/ "Speaking of success"], ''Smart Business'' interview. June 26, 2009. *[http://azstarnet.com/business/language-translation-firm-growing/article_c4919708-c9ba-5e45-a737-d5712209f4f6.html/ "Language-translation firm growing"], ''Arizona Star'', 8 June 2009.
Category:Companies based in Monterey County, California Category:Language interpretation Category:Translation companies