Languages of London communities of the study

We surveyed 14 multilingual communities in London and interviewed 12 language groups to explore how they experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. Our team, with strong connections to these communities, aimed to understand the challenges faced and the information sources available to them. We examined the role of communication and translation in public health and highlighted the need for improved communication across linguistic divides during crisis situations. This chapter discusses Algerian languages, Somali, Swahili, Turkish, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Sylheti, Indonesian, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. It will focus on these languages within their home countries and their relevant historical and cultural contexts, while also considering their use in the United Kingdom and among diasporic communities.