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Article published In:
Babel
Vol. 67:5 (2021) ► pp.553–578

Interpreting in Tanzania from the perspective of Tanzanian interpreters

Intercultural communication in inter/national dimensions

| Charles University

The study overviews the role of interpreting services in Tanzania, presenting mainly the experience of practicing freelance interpreters. The two official languages of Tanzania – English and Swahili – have separate roles in the country. Although most Tanzanians accept English as a necessary medium of intercultural communication, Swahili is perceived as an important part of Tanzanian national identity. It is the country’s lingua franca. On the one hand, Tanzania aims to preserve communication in Swahili; on the other hand, there is an inevitable need for intercultural communication with the rest of the world that grows especially in the context of globalization. The paper focuses on the role, status, education, working languages, conditions of Tanzanian interpreters, and the requirements of local and international clients. The study also creates a broader context that mentions crucial historical moments that have influenced the country’s current character of intercultural communication.

Keywords: interpretation, Tanzania, colonialism, German East Africa, globalization
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Methodology
  • Tracing the importance of indirect communication in Tanzanian history
  • Language situation in today’s Tanzania
  • Current situation of interpreting in Tanzania from interpreters’ perspective
    • Interpreters in Tanzania – their path to the profession
    • Situations requiring interpreting services in Tanzania
    • Types of interpreting mostly performed in Tanzania
    • Working languages and strategies to bridge intercultural gaps
    • Challenges faced by interpreters and possibilities of self-improvement
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 29 September 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/babel.00241.get
References

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