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Chapter 3. Interpreting for refugees

Lessons learned from the field
  • Marija Todorova
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Interpreting in Legal and Healthcare Settings
This chapter is in the book Interpreting in Legal and Healthcare Settings

Abstract

This chapter draws on relevant theory in the area of interpreting, with a particular focus on working with refugees, supplemented by the real-life experiences of field interpreters active during two refugee crises in the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia. Tackling the question of the discrepancy between the prescribed neutrality of interpreters and their real-life experience, the article will look at the different modes of work for interpreters for refugees in emergency situations, especially in three settings: interpreters as quasi-mediators, shuttle interpreters, and as agents for empowering the vulnerable. The analysis draws on aspects of the intersection between translation theory and mediation theory. In all three modes, it is important to place emphasis on specialised training to perform interpreters’ particular duties.

Abstract

This chapter draws on relevant theory in the area of interpreting, with a particular focus on working with refugees, supplemented by the real-life experiences of field interpreters active during two refugee crises in the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia. Tackling the question of the discrepancy between the prescribed neutrality of interpreters and their real-life experience, the article will look at the different modes of work for interpreters for refugees in emergency situations, especially in three settings: interpreters as quasi-mediators, shuttle interpreters, and as agents for empowering the vulnerable. The analysis draws on aspects of the intersection between translation theory and mediation theory. In all three modes, it is important to place emphasis on specialised training to perform interpreters’ particular duties.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgments vii
  4. Introduction. Interpreting in legal and healthcare settings 1
  5. Part I. Interpreting in legal settings
  6. Chapter 1. Linguistic disadvantage before the law 21
  7. Chapter 2. Tell us about that 45
  8. Chapter 3. Interpreting for refugees 63
  9. Chapter 4. Australian court interpreters’ preparation practices 83
  10. Chapter 5. Turn-taking management in interpreted legal aid lawyer-client interviews 113
  11. Chapter 6. Legal translator and interpreter training in languages of lesser diffusion in Spain 133
  12. Chapter 7. Organising a profession 165
  13. Chapter 8. Teaching police to work effectively with interpreters 189
  14. Part II. Interpreting in healthcare settings
  15. Chapter 9. Exploring role expectations of healthcare interpreters in New Zealand 211
  16. Chapter 10. Communication issues during triage in a paediatric emergency department 243
  17. Chapter 11. Medical interpreting as an emerging profession in Hong Kong 263
  18. Chapter 12. Overcoming language barriers in the Spanish healthcare context 287
  19. Chapter 13. Relational, situational and discourse features of mental health interactions 313
  20. Contributors 343
  21. Subject index 345
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.151.03tod

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgments vii
  4. Introduction. Interpreting in legal and healthcare settings 1
  5. Part I. Interpreting in legal settings
  6. Chapter 1. Linguistic disadvantage before the law 21
  7. Chapter 2. Tell us about that 45
  8. Chapter 3. Interpreting for refugees 63
  9. Chapter 4. Australian court interpreters’ preparation practices 83
  10. Chapter 5. Turn-taking management in interpreted legal aid lawyer-client interviews 113
  11. Chapter 6. Legal translator and interpreter training in languages of lesser diffusion in Spain 133
  12. Chapter 7. Organising a profession 165
  13. Chapter 8. Teaching police to work effectively with interpreters 189
  14. Part II. Interpreting in healthcare settings
  15. Chapter 9. Exploring role expectations of healthcare interpreters in New Zealand 211
  16. Chapter 10. Communication issues during triage in a paediatric emergency department 243
  17. Chapter 11. Medical interpreting as an emerging profession in Hong Kong 263
  18. Chapter 12. Overcoming language barriers in the Spanish healthcare context 287
  19. Chapter 13. Relational, situational and discourse features of mental health interactions 313
  20. Contributors 343
  21. Subject index 345
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