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Article published In:
Target
Vol. 30:3 (2018) ► pp.415–438

Without fear or favour?

The positionality of ICRC and UNHCR interpreters in the humanitarian field

ORCID logo | University of Reading | University of Geneva
| University of Geneva

Interpreting in complex transnational contexts has emerged as a recent area of interest for translation and interpreting scholars. These contexts provide a fertile ground for a sociological conceptualization of interpreting, as an emergent practice situated at the interface of individual agency and a socio-professional context. Drawing on our experiences in training interpreters for the ICRC and the UNHCR we develop a positionality-based understanding of ‘humanitarian interpreting’ and define this new analytical category. Based on two paradigmatic profiles of humanitarian interpreters, we present a comparative analysis of the intrinsic and relational factors shaping the positionality of ICRC and UNHCR interpreters in the humanitarian field and describe some of the ethical dilemmas these interpreters face. We furthermore discuss potential similarities and differences between interpreting in humanitarian and other contexts, such as military operations and asylum settings.

Keywords: humanitarian organizations, interpreter positionality, ethics, humanitarian field, conflict zones, NPIT
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Interpreter positionality
    • 2.1Personal background: Education and culture
    • 2.2Work environment: Training, tasks and status
  • 3.Interpreters in the humanitarian field
    • 3.1Doxa of the humanitarian field
    • 3.2Humanitarian actors and symbolic capital
  • 4.A tale of two interpreters in the humanitarian field
    • 4.1Interpreting for the ICRC
    • 4.2Interpreting for UNHCR
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 31 July 2018
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/target.17108.del
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