The Linguist

28 The Linguist Vol/65 No/1 ciol.org.uk/thelinguist FEATURES A life with languages From helping patients as a teen in Hong Kong to making radio shows and becoming an interpreter, Lachhemi Rana FCIL traces her journey in Nepali मे रो िकशोराव_ामा, वा अझ Fा>ै भRु पदा9 , मै ले िचिकJा शा^को अMयन सु z गनु9 अिघ, हङकङमा ने पाली समु दायिभ< दोभासे सहयोग चािहएका जो–कसै कालािग म पिरिचत "आवाज" बने । एक =ारिVक अनु भवले मलाई गिहरो {पमा =भािवत पाXो, मिहनyसW, म अवै तिनक Dालाको 0ितपू ितt मािगरहे का मिहलाह{को समू हसँ गै रहे ।ती मिहलाह{ले आSो ब@ौता रकम पाएपिछ Z? गरे को कृ त1ता अHOै मन छु ने िथयो। Hही 0णले मलाई से वा– के िQत या<ातफ9 धके ले को रहे छ भRे कु रा पिछ मा< बु झu । Hितबे ला, दोभासे गनु9 मे रो लािग िदगो आUानीको माMम िथएन, तर एक िदन अbतालमा नाते दारका लािग दोभासे काय9 गरे बापत पाएको १०० हCङ डलरले एउटा सानो आशा जगायो। Hही पै साले िकने को Dाके ट म गव9 का साथ लगाउँथे , भािषक सीपले पिन मू Y रा:छ भRे =माणझw । aातक भएपिछ, मे रो पे शागत जीवनका हरे क भू िमकामा अनु वाद र दोभासे cाभािवक {पमा िमिसँ दै गए। हङकङ सरकारका पिरयोजनादे िख िलएर माMिमक िवLालयमा ने पाली पढाउने , िनजी िAिनकमा सहयोग गनv , बाल– पु ]क ले Bे , सबै काममा भाषा नै के Qमा रdो। यस ;ममा मै ले भािषक प|ँचको महI र अभावले पानv गिहरो =भाव बु E थाले । िमिडया र समु दायमा वकालत गनv अवसर पिन बढ्दै गयो। हङकङ सरकारको अनु दान पाएर cा` सचे तना, समावे िशता र िविवधता =वK9न गनv ने पाली भाषाका रे िडयो काय9 ;मह{ िनमा9 ण गरे , जस मMे एकले उGृ [ काय9 ;मको पु र\ार पिन पायो। म हङकङ अदालतमा अं शकािलक दोभासे पिन बने । हालै को महामारीका कारण बे लायत आएपिछ पिन यो या<ा रोिकएन। भािषक अवरोधबारे शै ि0क ले खह{ =कािशत गरे , या<ा गदx अनु वाद– दोभासे से वा =दान गरे , र ने पाली भाषा–सं \ृ ित =वK9नका लािग या<ा–पु ]क पिन ले खे । अOतः, मे रो या<ाको सबै भPा गिवt लो उपलिT सीआईओ एल को फे लोिशपसँ ग आयो । िकशोरी उमे रमा भीडभाडका काया9 लय र अbतालमा सहयोग गदx सु z भएको बाटो आज भाषालाई सशि?करण र समझदारीको पु ल बनाउने जीवनभरको =ितबKतामा पिरणत भएको छ।म यो या<ा=ित अHO गिवt त छु । हरे क अनु भवले मलाई आजको भाषािवद् बनाएको छ, र म भाषा माफ9 त समु दायलाई जोड् ने , उठाउने र स0म बनाउने काममा िनरOर समिपt त रहNु । During my teenage years or, more accurately, before I started my medical education, I somehow became the 'voice' for anyone in Hong Kong's Nepalese community who needed interpreting support. One early experience shaped me deeply: for months, I accompanied a group of women who were demanding compensation for unpaid wages. When they finally received their long overdue payment, their gratitude was overwhelming. I didn't realise it then, but that moment quietly set me on a path of service. At the time, interpreting wasn't a sustainable way for me to earn money, but a spark of possibility appeared when I received HK$100 for interpreting during a relative's hospital visit. I turned that money into a jacket; a jacket I proudly wore as proof that my linguistic ability held value. After graduating, my professional life naturally expanded into roles where interpreting and translating were interwoven into almost everything I did. Whether I was working on Hong Kong Government projects, teaching Nepali in secondary schools, supporting families in private clinics or writing children's books, language work was always threaded through my responsibilities. I began to understand the profound impact of linguistic access and the consequences of its absence. My work extended into media and advocacy. I secured government funding to produce Nepali-language radio programmes promoting health awareness, inclusivity and diversity, one of which won a Best Radio Programme award. I also served as a part- time interpreter in the Hong Kong courts. When the pandemic brought me to the UK, I continued this journey through academic publications, travel for interpreting assignments, and even writing a travel book to promote Nepali language and culture. The proudest milestone came with my CIOL Fellowship. To have my contributions recognised at this level feels deeply affirming. What began as a teenager helping strangers in crowded offices and hospitals has grown into a lifelong commitment to using language as a bridge for empowerment and understanding. I am deeply proud of this journey. Every experience has shaped me into the linguist I am today, and I remain continually dedicated to connecting, uplifting and empowering the community through language.

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