Interpreting in an asylum context

Abstract

This chapter investigates training in an asylum context as a particular domain of public service interpreting (PSI). It outlines specifics of interpreting in asylum procedures and the development of interpreter training and trends in this field, with a particular focus on PSI training, before addressing recent approaches to interpreting didactics. Most industrialised countries have established a system for determining refugee status after World War II. The last decade has seen the emergence of training initiatives that focus on specialised training for public service interpreters, also including some for interpreters working in an asylum context. While interpreters have been needed since ancient times, the professionalisation and academisation of the field did not begin until the early and mid-20th century. The provision of PSI training is made complicated by the heterogeneous backgrounds of the potential trainees.