Public Service Interpreting in the Context of Social and Political Tensions

Abstract

This chapter outlines the social and political context for a discussion about community interpreting with a specific focus on public service interpreting in Central Europe. The chapter provides examples of qualitative and quantitative ethnological and sociological research from Central European countries with a focus on the public stance towards refugees and regional specificities. It proposes that public service interpreting and its diverse infrastructural support in these countries be studied as a part of citizenship regimes in the broader context of monolingual and plurilingual standards. This framework is illustrated by the stance to minority languages in the context of communication with state institutions as well as in interpreter training. Language policies reflect who is perceived as part of the national body and who is to be interpreted and thus understood. To a certain degree, the status of interpreters working in the public service therefore reflects each society’s commitment to plurilingualism.