Public service interpreting for Chinese immigrants in Catalonia: a study based on intepreters', coordinators' and users' views

Abstract

Public service interpreting (PSI) for the Chinese is a reality in many European states. However, research on the specificities of interpreting for this community is rather scarce. I therefore conducted a study to shed light on this topic, focusing on PSI for the Chinese in Catalonia, a region where this service began only relatively recently. This paper discusses the results of the research. The research was conducted using a mixed method. Qualitative interviews were held with interpreters and mediators who work with Chinese people and with coordinators of PSI and intercultural mediation, while quantitative questionnaires were distributed among Chinese users of public services. The three sets of data were analysed independently, and triangulation was used to validate the results and to compare and contrast the information collected from each sample of informants. This article presents the triangulation and elucidates some specificities and challenges of PSI for the Chinese, namely, Chinese linguistic diversity, mediating between cultures and gaining users' trust. The discussion and conclusions stress the importance of including specific strategies to face these challenges in training and education, while also underlining the critical role of coordinators in the professionalisation of PSI.