Organizer 1
Hanne Skaaden
advisor
Norwegian Directorate of Immigration & Department of Linguistics, University of Oslo/


Tel:
Fax:
Email:hanne.skaaden@ilf.uio.no


Organizer 2
Tatjana R. Felberg
advisor
Norwegian Directorate of Immigration


Tel:
Fax:
Email:





Workshop description:
Public service interpreting enables professionals and public servants to comply with their duty to communicate with clients, despite linguistic barriers. Studies and reports from the field reveal that poor quality interpreting is a source of discrimination. If the need for an interpreter is neglected or interpreting quality is dissatisfactory, the individual's legal safeguard is threatened. Moreover, many countries have yet to acknowledge the link between quality interpreting and the basic human right to receive and impart information. Finally, the field of interpreting itself is plagued by a status division where interpreters working in the public service setting are regarded much of a “pariah” within the profession. Like interpreting in any other setting, interpreting in the public service setting is a linguistically and ethically demanding task. At the same time, ensuring interpreting quality is a complex and complicated process due to the multitude of factors involved. Few countries have developed a system of interpreter accreditation that meets the society’s actual needs for linguistic services, and there is great variation with regard to the acknowledgement of the society’s responsibility to communicate across linguistic and cultural barriers (cf. Ozolins 2001). Issues raised by the workshop are accordingly: What is the link between interpreting in the public services and legal safeguard? How are the challenges of communication met with in different countries — and how well do the solutions applied ensure legal safeguard? What are the challenges associated with guaranteeing the quality of interpreting in the public service setting?





Presenters / participants /other information
Introduction:
Read my lips! -What does interpreting quality have to do with racism and discrimination?
The Norwegian Scene – a case presentation:
Communication and legal safeguard. Report from a Norwegian field study, Anne Birgitta Nilsen,
Department of Linguistics, University of Oslo – 15 min

Who is (not) interpreter material? Results from a screening of interpreter applicants,
Hanne Skaaden, Tatjana Felberg, Randi Havnen, Mona Myran,
Norwegian Directorate of Immigration - 15 min

The Norwegian Interpreter Certification Exam,
Diane Mortensen,
Department of Linguistics,
University of Oslo – 15 min

Equality before the law, irrespective of language and culture,
Ann Corsellis,
Institute of Linguists,
London UK– 30 min

Ensuring Interpreting Quality. General Challenges,
Helge Niska, University of Stockholm,
Sweden – 30 min

Discussion




Summary:
Ever been in need of an interpreter? –Professionals and public servants need interpreting in order to comply with their duty to communicate with clients despite linguistic barriers. Neglecting the need for quality interpreting threatens the individual's legal safeguard and is thus a source of discrimination. –But how can the quality of interpreting be ensured?



Date: 11 September


(1 session is 3 hours)
Number of sessions: 1

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