Biron added that in addition to translating
and interpreting, the linguists also provide
cultural advice to the troops and are
helpful in explaining customs, courtesies
and the local culture.
“When you are leaving a meeting, don’t
shake someone’s hand inside the building
because the hosts will want to walk you out
and then shake hands,” added Biron.
Isuf Hajrizi, a manager for the linguist
contract for Northrop Grumman, said the
company has been providing linguist
support to the U. S. Army from the first day
when troops landed in Kosovo in 1999.
Hajrizi and a small team of local staff
coordinate linguist assignments to ensure
the soldiers receive the support they need.
U.S. Army Sgt. Joshua Frank, a team leader for Liaison Monitoring Team 3, talks to the Partesh
official for rural development through Sadbere Baliu-Mehmeti, a linguist with Northrop
Grumman assigned to LMT 3. Linguists like Baliu-Mehmeti help provide a bridge between U.S.
soldiers and the local populace and institutions.
Linguists in Kosovo serve as a communication bridge
Story and Photo by Ardian Nrecaj, Public Affairs Specialist
On a rainy September day, U.S. Army
Sgt. Joshua Frank, a team leader for
Liaison Monitoring Team 3, led his unit to
meet with municipal officials of
agriculture in Partesh, a small town in
eastern Kosovo.
the Partesh official for rural development,
explained to Frank through Baliu-Mehmeti
that this year they had 30-40 percent more
revenue from farming, but she added that
farmers are having trouble selling their
goods this year.
“We wanted to see what their farm
Frank gathers the information from the
season was like this year; how were this meeting and enters it into a daily report
year crops compared to last year,” said that goes to his officer-in-charge.
Frank.
“Basically, [the report] goes all the way up
In order to carry out the mission, Frank
to the Commander of Kosovo Forces, and
and his team have to rely on the
based on that they determine how things
support of their linguist to facilitate the
are going inside Kosovo and what areas
discussion.
need more attention,” said Frank.
Sadbere Baliu-Mehmeti, a linguist with
Northrop Grumman assigned to LMT 3,
explained how the team makes
frequent trips to meet with municipal
officials, doctors, teachers and citizens
of the municipality of Partesh and the
neighbouring city of Gjilan.
“I help arrange the meetings initially on
the phone, and then during the
meeting I interpret for the unit,” said
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